Mother Goose and Family Visits Beach-Lifeguard Saves Beach Day (Life Guard Lessons and the Fish Vest)

(Illustrative Only)

The Origins of Mother Goose

Some days, lifeguarding is all about watching swimmers, scanning the water, and soaking up the view. Other days...you're directing goose traffic.

We really do have some of the best beaches in the region. Clear water, beautiful shoreline, friendly people, and plenty of wildlife make this an incredible place to visit. It's easy to see why the area is becoming a popular tourist destination—and maybe even the next entrepreneurial hotspot. It's hard to beat a summer day here (Ideas....just bubble forward. 🙃).

Then there's the wildlife.

This morning started off like any other. On the lifeguard stand, keeping an eye on the swimmers, making sure all the kids were safe, when suddenly we heard it:

(Illustrative Only)

Tom saves the beach
from an invading army of geese
by inventing the fish
vest. The birds
chased him until
they were far away.
 The crowd
cheers at the beach
day save. Kids
can now play
safely again!
😏

Canadian Geese

"Honk! Honk! Honk!"

In the distance appeared what looked like Mother Goose herself (ok not really, but a lead goose yes), leading an entourage of about 30 Canada geese straight through the middle of the swimming area.

Apparently, no one had informed them that this was a designated beach.

Families stopped to watch. Kids pointed excitedly. Parents were saying, "Look at all the geese!" It was like an unexpected wildlife parade.

Everything was going perfectly...until the geese reached a swimmer standing in their path.

I called out, "Let's give the geese some room. Don't approach them—they can sometimes be protective." 

That got everyone's attention.

The swimmer stepped aside, and something funny happened. The geese actually stopped and waited. They politely stood there until the path was clear, then continued their march as if they had somewhere very important to be (They stopped to fish on the other side and now I know their secret fishing spot 🙊.)

It was one of those moments where nature reminds you who's really in charge.

The geese looked at me with an expression that seemed to say, "Your whistle has no power here."

Thankfully, everyone gave them space, the geese continued on their journey without incident, and Mother Goose successfully escorted her family along the shore of the beach.

Sometimes the best rescue is simply letting nature do its thing.

After all, you can enforce the swimming rules with people.

Geese? They're operating under an entirely different set of regulations.

How Lifeguards Respond to Marine Animal Threats

• Lifeguards are trained to recognize and respond to hazards posed by marine animals such as jellyfish, stingrays, sharks, sea snakes, harmful algae, and marine bacteria through constant surveillance and environmental awareness.
• Prevention is the first priority, using observation towers, binoculars, drones, ocean monitoring systems, and reports from marine agencies to identify potential threats before they endanger swimmers.
• During incidents, lifeguards follow established emergency protocols that may include clearing the water, posting warnings, administering species-specific first aid, and coordinating with emergency responders and marine experts.
• Training emphasizes realistic emergency drills, rapid decision-making under pressure, and effective public communication to minimize panic while maintaining beach safety.
• Public education is an important part of the job, with lifeguards teaching beach visitors how to avoid risky encounters, recognize hazards, and respond appropriately if they encounter marine wildlife.

Harlanelio. (2025, June 19). How lifeguards deal with marine animal threats. Medium. https://medium.com/@harlanelio0011/how-lifeguards-deal-with-marine-animal-threats-4fdce4ccc640