The sound of whistles blowing signals a rescue is about to take place. Myles Aerts spends his days keeping community members visiting Washington Park Beach safe.
“I’m a lifeguard at Washington Park Beach,” Aerts said. “Most of the time we're watching over the water but occasionally we do have to go in and help a patron. Sometimes it can be more serious where we have to pull them out and then do CPR to bring them back, but most of the time, it's just helping people that just need a little bit of assistance.”
Aerts decided lifeguarding was the job for him because he enjoys helping people in any way he can, and he strives to go into the medical field when he gets older. Lifeguarding allows him to help people while learning basic first aid.
“I started at a smaller lake called Stone Lake. That was my first lifeguarding job. I did that for two years,” Aerts said. “During the winter I lifeguard at the YMCA, but I wanted more of a challenge, so I thought, Lake Michigan would be good.”
The decision to take on a larger challenge is what brought Aerts to Washington Park Beach. Before working there, he had not had to make any rescues, but due to the popularity and high risk of swimming in Lake Michigan, the intensity of his job has heightened with the location change.
“I do enjoy the intensity of the job. Rushing to help someone feels nice knowing that I'm able to help someone,” Aerts said.
Unfortunately, rescues sometimes do not have happy endings. The lifeguards work together to do all they can to help the patron in need of assistance, but sometimes that is not enough. In times like this, the team comes together to support each other.
“I was a little shocked from that day. I was quiet the next few days from my friends and family,” Aerts said. “But my co-workers and the rest of the fire department are all very supportive of each other. We're always there for each other knowing that we weren't the reason they died. There's nothing more we could have done and knowing that it wasn't our fault, even though we may feel like it is our fault, we tried everything that we could.”
Aerts emphasized how much he appreciates all his co-workers. He explained that they would not be able to save anyone if they did not work as a team and support each other as much as they do. He explained how his boss, Michigan City Fire Department Deputy Chief of Administration, Frank Rebac, supports the team and ensures they have all the resources they need.
The team of lifeguards ranges from 16-24 years old. 17-year-old Aerts explained how the difference in age does not impact the ability of the lifeguards to form connections. The team dynamic is strong, and they bond over being able to save lives.
“It's nice how we're able to connect over small things, but we don't think about ourselves as different ages,” Aerts said. “Some of us are in later in college and some of us are still in high school. We don't think about that. We just bond over that we're lifeguards.”
Although lifeguards are there to rescue, preventing emergencies is also part of their job. When at the beach, always listen to the lifeguards because they are more familiar with the beach than you are and they know when and where the beach can become dangerous.
“Stay within the buoys and listen to the lifeguards,” Aerts said. “Even though it may seem like nothing will happen, you don't know how quickly the sand underneath you can change. Also, the rip current can grab you and suck you right out. Listen to the lifeguards because they know a little more about safety and how the conditions can change.”