For 24 Straight Hours, Brazilian Lifeguards Stand Watch

03:54

December 31, 2015

People take a dip in the sea during the fireworks for the new year on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro on January 1, 2015. (Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images)

Rio de Janeiro's lifeguards face a daunting challenge on New Year's Eve when some two million Brazilians crowd Copacabana beach.

It's tradition to jump into the waves seven times for good luck, but alcohol makes that a tricky proposition, NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro says. The lifeguards are tasked with saving lives while also navigating the celebration.

Reporter

Lourdes Garcia-Navarro, South America correspondent for NPR, based in São Paulo, Brazil. She tweets @lourdesgnavarro.

This segment aired on December 31, 2015.