Rehoboth Beach Patrol

Lifeguards of the Rehoboth Beach Patrol have proudly served beachgoers for more than a century. The beach patrol serves an area from Pennsylvania Avenue south to Prospect Street from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through three weeks following Labor Day.

Each year, lifeguards and medical personnel that comprise the Rehoboth Beach Patrol:

provide beach wheelchairs
conduct hundreds of ocean assists and rescues
offer medical assistance
reunite hundreds of lost children and parents.

Lifeguards are on duty in season from 9 am-5 pm weekdays and 9:30 am-5:30 pm weekends and holidays.

In addition, the Rehoboth Beach Patrol employs beach ambassadors who help make visitors aware of beach rules and regulations that ensure everyone has an enjoyable beach day.

Portable wooden lifeguard stands are positioned along the entire beach. Our lifeguards monitor the ocean and beach from these stands. Frequently toward the end of the season, when many of our lifeguard staff return to school, the beach coverage area is reduced to Pennsylvania Avenue south to Hickman Street. Signs are posted at beach access points to indicate that certain sections are unguarded.

Captain Jeff Giles leads a team of approximately 70 lifeguards, emergency medical technicians, and support staff.

Rehoboth Beach Patrol headquarters is located on the boardwalk at Baltimore Avenue. A new, two-story beach patrol/public restroom facility currently is being constructed and is expected to be ready for the 2025 summer season.

Each year the Rehoboth Beach Patrol votes for a lifeguard who has performed in a manner that is above and beyond the normal call of duty. In 2024, two lifeguards, Dionn Stevenson and Tori Blankenship, received this honor.

For winning the 10-event Rookie Test, Cole Jennings is 2024’s Rookie of the Year.

See a complete list of past Lifeguard of the Year and Rookie of the Year winners.