RACINE — Lifeguard season has officially ended in Racine, leaving swimmers at North Beach and Zoo Beach responsible for their own safety for the rest of the year.
Monday was the first day without lifeguards posted at North Beach. Lifeguarding at Zoo Beach ended last week.
Phil Kiley, the city's lifeguard program manager, said the season wraps up as fall approaches because most of the staff are college or high school students.
Learn more about what this means for beachgoers in the video player below.
"What that means is Monday, we will have our guards come in and actually start putting things away and getting things in storage so we have them for next season," Kiley said.
On Monday, lifeguards could be seen removing buoys from the lake and signage from the beach.
But the end of the season does not mean the end of beach visits for many. Kiley said swimmers have been known to use the beaches well into fall, depending on the weather.
"People have utilized the beach going into October," Kiley said.
With no lifeguards on duty, Kiley is urging beachgoers to take personal responsibility for their safety in Lake Michigan.
"Be aware of the water conditions. If it looks unsafe, don't go in the water. Know your ability, your swimming ability. Know your limits, and do not go past them," Kiley said.
He also stressed the importance of watching children closely near the water.
"If you have kids when you're down here, really be mindful of where they are, what they're doing," Kiley said.
And he emphasized the importance of proper flotation devices.
"If you are not a strong swimmer, please wear a US Coast Guard-approved flotation device," he said.
Shana Jacob practices this with her own kids.
"If they're out far enough in the water, they have to have a life jacket on, and if they don't, they usually stay up by me and close to the shore," Jacob said.
Beachgoer Rod French said he keeps safety top of mind by sticking to a buddy system.
"Two people are always with each other, and everyone always stays together in a group," French said.
French, an open water swimmer himself, also advises that sands can shift and awareness is key.
"Lake Michigan can be very dangerous. It can also be the most beautiful place in the world to swim," he said.
French said he was sorry to see the lifeguards go.
"The lifeguards here at North Beach are great. It's unfortunate they can't go into September," French said.
Kiley reminded beachgoers that Lake Michigan can be unpredictable.
"At any time, you could potentially experience an emergency," he said.
Anyone who sees an emergency should call 911 immediately.
"Don't wait for someone else to do it. If you see something, or even if you're not sure, still dial 9-1-1," Kiley said.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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