Holy Sh*t - Notes on 2020, Vol. 11

I was on vacation all last week and can confirm that people love to leave their noses out of the masks. Shop owners included. It absolutely blows my mind. I will grant that it has been quite warm, and it gets uncomfortable to have both breathing orifices underneath. But still, we have to wear them right. Especially those who are in places of authority who need to enforce such rules in their establishments.

I will also grant this—you can’t wear masks in the ocean, and that’s a risk any swimmer has to take on a busy day at the beach.

But the lifeguards take an even bigger risk. As a former beach lifeguard of several years, it is my opinion that the close contact between rescuer and distressed swimmer brings with it a palpable level of COVID risk. Not that I’m saying you shouldn’t save people from drowning anymore. Drowning is a pressing, horrific state to be in, so trust me, I’m not undermining that!

It was conveyed to me through a current guard that their saved victim now grabs onto the rescue can and gets towed into shore, which wasn’t the case in previous eras. In earlier times the lifeguard would wrap the victim between themselves and the can for an added support. But with the advent of the pandemic, this close contact has ceased.

A winning aspect of distancing is that you’re obligated to do it on the beach, and that applies to all of the families who plant their chairs right next to you. (Not that that means you won’t hear their obnoxious music blaring from maxed out speakers.)