By Aaron Applegate
The Virginian-Pilot
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The city is taking over lifeguard duties from a private contractor at Sandbridge Beach. Officials say the move is designed to save money and unrelated to contractor problems last year that included a lifeguard running over a sunbather with a pickup.
The Department of Emergency Medical Services will staff Sandbridge’s 11 stands between Memorial Day and Labor Day, said Tom Green, an EMS division chief. It will be the city’s first large-scale foray into life guarding.
The contractor, Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service, has a contract through the end of 2011 and will continue to work at the resort area, Croatan and Fort Story.
The city is reducing the company’s annual contract amount by $273,000 to $1.17 million. Officials expect to save about $105,000 after hiring 32 temporary seasonal workers, Green said. The life guard contract is the largest expense in the department’s $7.1 million budget, excluding personnel.
Last year, EMS officials complained that the company repeatedly underreported beach injuries, causing paramedic delays. They also raised concerns about the company understaffing stands.
The issue climaxed in August when a lifeguard in a pickup hit a sunbather, breaking his collarbone and ribs and fracturing a vertebra.
“This has nothing to do with them performing or not performing,” Green said. “It’s all the budget.”
Most city departments are looking at cuts as the city and schools face an $84 million budget shortfall.
“I wish them the best,” said Kent Hinnant, president of the Lifesaving Service. “I don’t want anybody to get hurt. I hope they’re efficient, and maybe in the long term they’ll let us have it back.”
The company is one of the few private lifeguard companies in the country.
Two years ago, residents objected to a plan to reduce the number of lifeguards at Sandbridge to save money.
“I have no problem with it,” said Cary Shreve, president of the Sandbridge Beach Civic League. “We’re not losing or gaining people. It’s the status quo.”
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