So, the only change in the emotional response in this situation is if your child is to the left or right of a 1mm division line, in the visual range of a trained person to do the help?
You actually strengthen
Wondercow's point, I believe. I'm not a lifeguard, but
Wondercow has made the issue clear... to me at least ... with their clear explanation.
How far should a lifeguard go outside their zone? Is 1 metre too far (assuming clear and defined boundary) or would everybody just overlook that? Two metres? Ten metres? Would you mind if the lifeguard helped someone drowning 10 metres outside their zone, but on the beach? What if it was a heart attack 10 metres outside the zone - but across the street behind the beach? Should the lifeguard leave the beach entirely if it's just 10 metres? How about 5 blocks off the beach? Should a lifeguard run 5 blocks off the beach to save someone drowning in their pool?
The article states he ran a quarter of a mile down the beach. So I picked a random beach in Miami Beach and
measured from the middle of the beach into the city (assuming his station was somewhere on the beach). I
counted 5 blocks from the edge of the park behind the beach (assuming the park might have been in his zone). Is that too far? Same distance outside the zone, just a different direction.
So... the rule was made simple so that a lifeguard doesn't have to make that kind of "how far is too far?" judgement call in the heat of the crisis.
So... overall I think the lifeguard did the right thing. He didn't leave his zone, until it was covered. Then he ran to see if he could help. Then he didn't freak out when he got fired, 'cause he knew the rules. He either probably already has another job offer from another beach - or he decided lifeguarding doesn't pay nearly well enough for the kinds of decisions he's expected to make.
The other thing to remember is that people's lives are begin protected on this beach by the lowest bidder.