Swampscott Lifeguards are Here

In the past, you may have seen signs at the beach that state “No Lifeguard on Duty” or “No Swimming.”  This year, you may also see a sign that states “No Birthday Suits Allowed!”

Kaleb Allen, a 19-year-old senior guard, has dealt with this unforeseen instance on more than one occasion.

“It’s hard when people get undressed and I have to go speak to them and tell them to go change somewhere else," Allen said. "It’s an uncomfortable situation. We’ve had to talk to the police about it, actually."

Allen is a sophomore materials engineering major at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

He started his lifeguarding career at 16 years old and has been working at the beaches in Swampscott and the Jewish Community Center (JCC) since then.

“I became certified at such a young age because I wanted to work outside and I didn’t want to be stuck in an office," he said. "Also, I wanted to be someone in the community that people looked up to and trusted."

Allen has been a senior guard for two years and has been working in Swampscott longer than the rest of the staff.

“It has been taken more seriously in the past three years and I’ve been there to witness the change,” he said.

According to Allen, being outside all day and bathing in the sun aren’t the only perks of the job.

“One of the best parts of guarding is interacting with people," he said. "We always say hello to everyone when they come and we actually do get to know some of the people pretty well."

Like every job, there definitely are some negative aspects because after all, lifeguarding is still work.

Allen said that the six-hour shifts in the sun often leave him feeling drained and exhausted by the end of the day.

When he’s not guarding at the pool or the beach, Allen loves to teach himself musical instruments. Currently, he is learning how to play the guitar.

“It’s definitely hard but it’s a lot of fun, especially because I love music so much,” he said.