People packed Massachusetts beaches on Saturday in the hopes of getting relief during a blazing hot weekend, but officials are asking them to stay out of the water for the time being.
While the Department of Conservation and Recreation is hiring lifeguards, they won’t start manning the beaches until Memorial Day weekend, according to Acting Commissioner Stephanie Cooper. And while temperatures on land are running into the 90s this weekend, the water is still very cold from the winter.
“I would tell people to use extreme caution,” Cooper said. “We are not encouraging people to swim, we understand that it’s very tempting when it’s so hot out.”
Even after Memorial Day, some towns in Massachusetts may still not have the manpower necessary to sufficiently safeguard their beaches.
According to the Chairman of the Bourne Board of Selectmen, a miscommunication caused Bourne town leaders to overlook their lifeguard shortage until it was too late.
“Over the years it’s just been harder to staff the beaches to the point that last year we only staffed one beach,” said Peter Mier, a Bourne selectman. “Now this summer we won’t have any at all.”
Because of the lifeguard deficit, all Bourne beaches will be classified as “swim at your own risk.”
Boston has declared a heat emergency and opened up 15 cooling centers throughout the city, and Cooper said residents can cool off at spray decks instead of in the ocean. Experts said anyone outside during the hot weekend should drink plenty of water, try to limit activity to morning and evening hours and to use plenty of sunscreen.
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