By Katie Vasquez
ROCKAWAY PARK — Janet Fash has spent more than four decades watching the waters off Rockaway Beach, and she knows danger isn’t always easy to spot.
“The rip current is in an area that sometimes looks inviting because it’s not like foamy waves,” Fash said. “Here they don’t pull you out that far, but you have to float on your back and you have to remain calm.”
Fash served as a New York City lifeguard for more than 46 years, eventually becoming the first woman to serve as chief lifeguard at Rockaway Beach.
“We broke down the barrier for females to be bosses on the beach,” she said. “It wasn’t easy, but I learned pretty quickly how to command a troop of 35 lifeguards.”
Throughout her career, water safety remained one of her greatest priorities.
“I’ve always wanted people to learn how to swim,” Fash said. “But it spurred me on when there were so many drownings in the early 2000s.”
A parishioner at St. Camillus Church, Fash said her Catholic faith has guided her both in and out of the water.
“I always say a prayer when I enter the water. I always bless myself,” she said.
Although retired, Fash continues teaching water safety to young people, passing along lessons she hopes will help prevent future tragedies.
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“Janet showed me about how the winds can affect the water, which is something I never knew,” said water safety student Jay Sanchez. “You always come to the beach and hope that it’s low tide, or you hope that these things can happen.”
Fellow student Madison Anderson said one lesson stood out above the rest.
“Make sure you are not alone,” Anderson said. “Make sure you are swimming with someone else just in case something goes wrong in the sea.”
As beach season continues, Fash encourages visitors to take simple precautions before entering the water.
“Obviously when you head to the beach, look for a lifeguard-protected beach,” she said.
She also advises parents to accompany children to the shoreline, wear reef-safe sun protection or SPF clothing, and avoid diving into unfamiliar waters to reduce the risk of head injuries.
For Fash, the mission has always been about more than preventing accidents.
“I also think about life and how important it is to protect life,” she said. “That has my faith — no loss of life.”