BARNSTABLE – The Barnstable Town Council received an update from Recreation Director Patti Machado about this summer’s beach and activity and water life earlier this month.
Machado said that the town was able to successfully fill all of its lifeguard positions.
“We are one of the few nationally that are full. We can attribute that to our lifeguard trainers doing a lot of extra work in the school system, the YMCA allowing us to come over and use their facility, and then us doing a lot of classes to get people,” said Machado.
She said having a full roster of lifeguards is a difficult task.
“I feel very proud that we were able to do that, because national seashore couldn’t do it, Truro couldn’t do it, there’s a lot of places that are in dire situations, so I have to say we’re really fortunate here.”
This has been a busy year for Barnstable beach activity and sticker sales, despite an increase in sticker prices.
“Our beach sticker sales are right on the target even though we went up $5 this year. We are equal to last year, we’ve sold over $20,000,” said Machado.
Veteran’s Beach was closed by 7 am on the Fourth of July, and all of the other beaches in Barnstable were closed by noon due to capacity as well.
“We have over 45 volunteers that live in our town that help make that operation happen. We are the only place that I know of that does it with volunteers. We couldn’t do it without them.”
When it comes to sea wild life, Barnstable is also prepared says Machado.
The lifeguards have been certified in the “Stop the Bleed” program, which is designed to educate citizens on how to aid a victim suffering blood-loss like that inflicted in a shark attack.
“All of our life guards, 110 people including our lifeguard trainers, were all certified in Stop the Bleed. All five fire departments came together to do that training,” spoke Machado.
The Town of Barnstable has also been donated several “Stop The Bleed” first aid kits for the use on the beaches in case of emergency alongside the training received by the local fire departments.
“You talk about a town coming together to make sure that people came here and had a good time, and they were safe, this community did us proud. From the staff at the beaches, to every single employee that was out there,” said Machado.
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