Name: Jennifer Rohles

Years of Experience: 17

Location(s): San Clemente, California; San Onofre Beach, California; Coronado, California

Swimming background my entire life as father was in the Navy and we moved every 3 years (San Jose, Norforlk,VA, Maryland, Japan, San Clemente). Almost drowned in Hawaii in 5^th grade (during the move to Japan) as I got caught in the machine wash. The move to the desert was the most dreaded, but after a year I had been a S.C. City Jr. Lifeguard, body boarded and learned how to surf and then I was hooked. We liked San Clemente so much my dad retired here. My sisters were both pool lifeguards in Japan and I followed one of them to work at Ole Hanson (pool in San Clemente). When I turned 15 some of the swimmers tried out for Camp Pendleton as we were too young for any of the other agencies and they convinced me to as well.

Once I turned 16, I tried out for State because they paid a lot more, had more beaches and were better trained. The surf was so big that year that they cancelled the Carlsbad tryout. (Although I had been on the surf and swim teams and I had already been a lifeguard, I was very scared as I watched the returning guards with fins and buoys not be able to make it out and was wondering how I was going to attempt it. I had to dig deeper than ever to stand on the beach for the tryout, and then have them cancel. ) The next weekend tryout was nothing compared to that (in fact no surf was ever like that) and so my State Guard seasons began.

Summers : California Lifeguard

1982-83(Winters 83-86) Pool Guard at San Clemente City Pool (14-17)(Lifeguard training on base with Marines)

1984-85 Beach Guard Camp Pendleton San Onofre Beach (Age – 15-16)

1985-1999 Beach Guard San Clemente State Beach (Pendleton Coast) (16-had to be 16 to be a state guard)

Junior Lifeguard Director : 93-97 (Instructor 1990-97)

Summer 1998 – Beach Guard at Silver Strand State Beach, Coronado

2000 – didn’t lifeguard due to birth of my first daughter 8/15/00

Memories:

At Camp Pendleton:

I was on my break when a lady touched her toe into water and I sprinted to get her. Rip was pulling fastest and hardest we had ever seen and she was out 300 yards when I reached her, terrified. This beach is known for it’s deadliest rip currents in southern California.
Best rescues due to rips, alcohol use and extremely muscular marines who sink (they no longer are allow alcohol use on beach).
Treating “Devil Pup(teenager in training for marines)” for heat stroke – unconscious: first time I remember calling 911 and didn’t know if he would make it

At San Clemente State Beach

First day at SC State beach on July 4 I thought I was being initiated by the guards as I got a report of a male hitting his wife with his prosthetic leg. I tentatively still called it in expecting it to be an initiation (unfortunately it was real). Debbie Friedman (First Female Peace Officer came and took the report).

Best Rescues/Memories:

Walking broken neck that we (Melissa Borio and I) convinced this man that we had to C-Spine him as a precaution. Hard to convince him, but we did. He had broken his neck.
Rescuing “Olympian swimmers” that couldn’t get out of RIP
Lifeguarding Trail #6 (naked beach) with all beach activities (volleyball, surfing, etc. ) rescues and first aids
Responding to call of a heart attack surfer at 8pm while off duty.
Swimming with a whale

Boat Rescues (and body surfing behind rescue boat)
Shark chasing all surfers out of the water
Digging out the vehicles for guards who got them stuck
Had an article written on me “Bay Watch” while at Coronado

Lifeguarding was the most influential job I have ever had. Memories and experiences that prepare you for any job and Friends that last a LIFETIME! I’m still friends and polo teammates with many of my lifeguard friends.

One of my daughters now works as a Beach Lifeguard for San Clemente City Beach. It is a much more active beach than the ones I worked at.

Images provided by Jennifer Rohles.