While beachgoers are relaxing on the sand, swimming, or grabbing an ice cream cone, there’s an entire team quietly working behind the scenes to keep Yarmouth’s coastline safe. Affectionately known as the YarGuards, these town lifeguards spend their summers constantly watching the water, training for emergencies, answering visitor questions, and preventing accidents before they happen.
Yarmouth lifeguard Caroline Chaffiotte gave us a behind-the-scenes look at what life is really like on the stand. From early morning ocean workouts to the constant focus and split-second decisions that help keep Yarmouth’s beaches safe, welcoming, and fun all summer long.
The Job is 99% Prevention
One of the biggest things people may not realize about lifeguarding is that the job is mostly about preventing emergencies - not responding to them.
As Caroline explained, the job is “99% prevention and 1% actual rescues.” That means when a lifeguard blows their whistle and asks someone to get off the rocks or stop playing chicken in the water, they aren’t trying to ruin anyone’s fun. They’ve spotted something that could become dangerous and are stepping in before an accident happens.
That prevention can make all the difference. Caroline shared a recent example from Smuggler’s Beach, where a man was climbing on the tower before falling and hitting his head on the rocks. Caroline’s sister and cousin had to hold his head in traction until EMTs arrived.
It’s exactly the kind of situation the YarGuards work hard to prevent.
One of the most common safety issues the team sees is swimmers getting too close to the jetty at Smuggler’s Beach. The current can be extremely strong, and beachgoers may not realize they are being pulled toward the river until it’s too late.
So if a lifeguard gives you a warning, listen to them. They may be preventing an emergency you never knew was coming.
Keeping Watch Across Yarmouth
The YarGuards cover most of Yarmouth’s public beaches, including Gray’s Beach, Bass River (Smuggler’s), South Middle, Parker’s River, Seaview when needed, and Seagull Beach. A smaller group also provides lifeguard coverage at Flax Pond for camp.
This year, Yarmouth has around 35 to 40 lifeguards on the team. That’s a big increase from previous years when the team had as few as 20 guards.
Becoming a YarGuard also takes plenty of preparation. In the past, lifeguards had to complete their Red Cross certification before beginning beach-specific training. Today, thanks to Yarmouth’s Water Safety Instructors, Susan and Leah, the team can complete both their Red Cross and beach training in-house, for free.
Along with standard lifeguard training, guards learn specialized beach skills, including how to use rescue boards and respond to the unique conditions found along Yarmouth’s shoreline.
A Day in the Life of a YarGuard
For the YarGuards, the workday starts well before most beachgoers arrive. The team kicks off the morning with a workout or training session before receiving their beach assignments, heading to their locations, and getting everything set up for the day.
Then comes the part of the job most beachgoers see: sitting in the lifeguard chair and watching the water. But there is much more happening than meets the eye. Guards spend the day constantly scanning the water, watching beachgoers, helping patrons, and looking for anything that could become unsafe. As the day goes on, they rotate through breaks and may take the opportunity to go for a paddle, swim, or run before returning to their chairs.
As the afternoon winds down, the beaches are packed up, and the guards radio the beach directors before heading home. It may look like a relaxing day at the beach, but there is plenty of focus, training, and responsibility behind those lifeguard chairs.
Baywatch, Yarmouth Style
Lifeguarding may be serious work, but the YarGuards know how to have fun, too. One of the team’s favorite traditions is Baywatch, a lifeguarding skills competition featuring paddle relays and mock swim rescues. Last year, Yarmouth invited Nauset to participate, and this year, Falmouth joined in. It’s a chance for guards across the Cape to put their training to the test, bring some friendly competition to the sand, and bond outside of regular shift hours.
Your Beach Guides and Ambassadors
The YarGuards do more than watch the water. They also serve as beach ambassadors and a friendly resource for visitors.
People regularly stop by to ask questions about parking, bathrooms, snack shacks, beach conditions, or where they should go for the day. Sometimes, they simply want to chat about the weather or learn more about what it’s like to be a lifeguard.
Caroline mentioned that being a beach ambassador is an important part of the job. It’s about maintaining a positive relationship with beachgoers and being a welcoming community representative, not just being there when something goes wrong.
So don’t be afraid to say hello the next time you pass a lifeguard chair!
A Lifeguard's Favorite: Gray's Beach
With so many beautiful beaches to choose from, we had to ask Caroline which one was her favorite. Her answer? Gray’s Beach.
Caroline loves the dramatic tides and the way the beach completely transforms throughout the day. At low tide, the sand stretches all the way toward Chapin’s, creating a landscape that she says looks almost like “the surface of another planet.”
Between the dunes, there are also deeper pockets of water where the guards can swim and cool off during the day.
There is one downside, however: the greenheads.
Even the YarGuards have to admit that some parts of summer on Cape Cod come with a few challenges!
The Best Part of the Job? The People.
For many lifeguards, one of the most rewarding parts of the job is the friendships that come from spending an entire summer together.
Caroline shared that the friendships she has developed with the other guards are one of the best parts of the job. She says the team is lucky to do what they do and that she has met some of the kindest and most capable people through lifeguarding.
Of course, spending every summer on Cape Cod doesn’t hurt either. There’s the sunshine, the water, the workouts, and the chance to spend every day in a place you love.
As Caroline put it, “It’s the best job on earth.”
One Simple Rule for Every Beachgoer
If there is one thing the YarGuards want every visitor to remember, it’s simple: always swim near a lifeguard.
Caroline shared the team’s rule of thumb: “If you can’t see us, we can’t see you.”
Whether you’re spending the day swimming at Smuggler’s, catching a concert at Parker’s River, exploring the shoreline at Gray’s, or enjoying a long beach day at Seagull, staying close to a lifeguard is one of the easiest ways to help keep yourself and your family safe.
And the next time you see a YarGuard sitting in their chair, give them a wave. They’re doing much more than enjoying a day at the beach. They’re keeping watch and keeping Yarmouth’s beaches safe all summer long.
So grab your beach bag, head to the shore, and don’t forget to thank the people helping make your Yarmouth beach day a safe one.
Written by Caroline Gardiner
This blog is funded through the Town of Yarmouth’s Tourism Revenue Preservation Fund.