Manhattan Beach Mom Tells Board How Jr. Lifeguards Helped Her Son

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — A Manhattan Beach mom told the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors how pivotal the Junior Lifeguard program has proven to be for her family.

Brandy Mosteller called in to tell the board during its Tuesday meeting about an incident in which Jr. Guard training made all the difference. "My oldest five [children] have attended junior guards every year they are eligible and two have gone on to graduate out of the program," said the mother of six. "My youngest and only girl is 9, and this would be her first year to JG. The JG program is many things but most importantly, it is a lifesaver."

Two of her sons went surfing on their own one summer night, she told the board. Her 14- year-old fell off his board, slashed the inside of his leg and lost unconsciousness.

"Parris, 11, used his three years of JG training and one, screamed for help, two, made sure Ty's head was above the water, and three, applied pressure to the deep wound -- all skills he learned in junior guards," Mosteller said. "Lifeguards arrived quickly and 47 stitches later, Ty was fine, but it shaped our family."

Supervisor Janice Hahn told her board colleagues that she had received more than 500 emails from parents and kids upset that the program might be canceled again this summer because of the coronavirus pandemic.

She said she understood why the program needed to be canceled last summer but asked that the board pass her motion for a report examining how to safely resume the LA County Junior Lifeguard program in the summer of 2021. The report, due in 30 days, should include:

1. Public safety protocols for the Junior Lifeguard program; and
2. Staffing reallocations required to resume the Junior Lifeguard program by its intended start date."

Supervisor Sheila Kuehl pointed out that the program cannot be run without county lifeguards, almost all of whom she said are now working as part of the vaccine roll-out. She expressed concern about whether it made sense to pull them away.

"It's not really clear to me whether we will be finished — as a matter of fact, it's looking more and more clear that (we won't be) — with our vaccination programs by the summer," Kuehl said.

The board unanimously passed Hahn's motion. The matter will return for the board's consideration when that report is available.

PREVIOUSLY: Hahn To Make Motion For 2021 Jr. Lifeguards, Manhattan Beach

City News Service contributed to this report.