Want to Become a Lifeguard for Delaware Beaches? Here’s What to Know.
Do you have what it takes to join Delaware’s ocean beach patrols? If you want to become one of Delaware’s ocean lifeguards this year, here’s what you should know.
Bethany Beach Patrol
Bethany Beach requires lifeguard applicants to be at least 17 years old. They must pass a physical, CPR and first aid training, semaphore training, a written test, and be interviewed by lifeguard captains and lieutenants.
Tryouts, which include physical fitness tests, will be held on Saturday, March 29, and Saturday, April 5, at 8 a.m. at Bethany Beach Patrol Headquarters, 95 Garfield Parkway, and Sea Colony Swim and Fitness Center, 38994 Westway Drive. More information is available online.
Delaware State Parks
Delaware State Parks began lifeguard testing early. Only one testing date remains: Sunday, March 23, at the Sussex County YMCA in Rehoboth Beach at 7 a.m. Tryouts include completing a 500-meter swim and a 1-mile sand run. Applicants must bring two of the following forms of ID: a passport, license, or Social Security card. Applications are available online.
Dewey Beach Patrol
Dewey Beach lifeguard applicants must be at least 16 years old, pass a physical, undergo a background check, and be able to complete various physical fitness tests. Individuals must also be certified in CPR, automated external defibrillator, and first aid.
Testing will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30, and Sunday, April 6. Physical testing will occur on the beach in front of the Dewey Beach Lifeguard Headquarters on Dagsworthy Street; the swim test is scheduled at the Sussex County YMCA in Rehoboth Beach. Applications are available online.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol
Rehoboth Beach lifeguard applicants must be at least 16 years old by Memorial Day, be ( certified in CPR and first aid, and be able to successfully complete various physical fitness tests, including swimming and running. Applications are available online; completed applications should be brought to tryouts at the following locations:
- Sussex County YMCA, 20080 Church St., Rehoboth Beach | noon, Saturday, March 22
- Lake Forest High School (rear parking lot near the pool), 5407 Killens Pond Road, Felton | 8 a.m., Saturday, March 29
- Sussex Academy of Arts and Sciences (pool entrance), 21150 Airport Road, Georgetown | 10 a.m., Saturday, April 5
Top Signs You May Have 'Celebrity Worship Syndrome'
Obsessive Fixation
Your social life and personal relationships suffer because you constantly find yourself steering conversations toward the latest updates or news about the celebrity. This makes it challenging to engage in meaningful interactions with others. For example, during a dinner with friends, instead of participating in conversations about shared interests or experiences, you find yourself steering the discussion towards the latest gossip about the celebrity’s personal life or career moves, dominating the conversation. Sorry, but not everyone wants to hear what “Swelcie” ate for lunch today.
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Extreme Loyalty
Being loyal to your favorite celeb is great. Until it isn’t. Any negative media coverage or criticism of the celebrity feels like a personal attack, leading you to defend them even when their actions may be questionable or harmful. Let’s say a tabloid publishes a critical article about the celebrity you idolize, accusing them of unethical behavior. Rather than assessing the information presented, you fight tooth and nail for the celebrity online. This includes engaging in heated arguments with strangers who express differing opinions. Maybe even feeling personally attacked by any negative comments directed towards the celebrity.
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Extreme Measures to Emulate
You find yourself adopting the mannerisms, speech patterns, or even fashion choices of the celebrity in an attempt to emulate them. This can sometimes cause you to lose sight of your own unique identity in the process. You might decide to undergo extensive plastic surgery to alter your appearance to resemble the celebrity you admire. This includes actions like getting lip injections to mimic their full pout or undergoing rhinoplasty to match their nose shape, ultimately losing sight of your own natural features and uniqueness in pursuit of something unattainable.
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Financially Reckless Behavior
Another sign is engaging in excessive spending on celebrity-related activities. This includes attending concerts, purchasing memorabilia, or traveling to events, despite financial constraints or mounting debt. For instance, you find yourself continuously following a popular musician on tour, attending multiple concerts in different cities. Each concert you go to has several expenses for travel, accommodation, tickets, and merchandise, pushing you further into financial distress. Despite warnings from friends and family about your unsustainable spending habits, you prioritize your idol’s concerts over your financial well-being. This ultimately leaves you facing severe financial consequences.
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Delusional Fantasies of Personal Connection
You experience intense jealousy or resentment towards anyone who you perceive as having a closer connection to the celebrity, whether it’s other fans, their friends, or even their romantic partners, leading to irrational behavior or hostile attitudes towards these people. You might even spend hours researching the celebrity’s favorite hangout spots or following their social media activity to determine their whereabouts. Suppose you happen to spot them in public. In that case, you may impulsively approach them, convinced that if they just got to know you, they would want to befriend you or pursue a romantic relationship despite the unrealistic nature of these expectations.
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