NYC Lifeguard Hours Extended At City Beaches During Heat Waves

NEW YORK CITY — More lifeguards will be on patrol at New York City beaches during heat waves, Mayor Eric Adams announced Tuesday.

About 66 lifeguards will be on call for emergencies until 8 p.m., Adams said during a press conference.

Beaches remain open to swimmers from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and swimmers are barred from entering the water after 6 p.m.

Lifeguards will be inside shacks after 6 p.m. as to not "give the false impression that the beaches are open and that it’s safe to swim,” Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi said.

Lifeguards will coordinate with the NYPD, FDNY, New York City Emergency Management and Parks Enforcement Patrol officers in the event of an emergency.

The extended lifeguard hours came about following negotiations with lifeguard unions.

"Ultimately these are about work rules and being a lifeguard is a difficult job. You're out in the hot sun. All of that means that whenever we adjust schedules, we've got to consider hours, staffing and the schedules. What we put together is a skeleton crew," Joshi said.

The addition of new lifeguards comes after six reported drownings this season, the highest number of drownings at city beaches since 2019.