FALL 2016 - VOL. 34, NO. 1 ALM FALL 2016 (2) ALM EXECUTIVE TEAM IN THIS ISSUE USLA Executive Board USLA Regional Presidents USLA Special Assignments President New England American Magazine Peter Davis, Bob Bertrand B. Chris Brewster PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE ...... 4 Galveston, TX [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Mid-Atlantic Bylaws and Policies Ed Zebrowski III A RESCUE FROM SAND AND SURF ...... 5 Vice-President Ed Zebrowski [email protected] Rob Williams [email protected] Newport Beach, CA Certification South Atlantic PREVENTION IN THE ERA OF SOCIAL MEDIA ...... 10 [email protected] Tony Pryor Tom Gill [email protected] Treasurer [email protected] LIFELINES ...... 14 Michael Bradley Sport Southeast Ed Zebrowski Charleston, SC Gerry Falconer [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Heroic Acts Awards THE HISTORY OF BEACH LIFEGUARDING Secretary Great Lakes Adrienne Groh Nikki Bowie, WORLDWIDE - PART III ...... 15 Joe Pecoraro [email protected] Charleston, SC [email protected] Junior [email protected] David Robinson Gulf Coast PARTING SHOT ...... 34 Executive Delegate [email protected] Tony Pryor Ed Zebrowski III [email protected] Membership Cape May, NJ Charlotte Graham [email protected] Northwest [email protected] Bert Whitaker Liaison Officer Professional Development [email protected] B. Chris Brewster Stephanie McCormick San Diego, CA Southwest (CSLSA) [email protected] [email protected] Mike Beuerlein Public Education [email protected] Advisor Denise Blair [email protected] Ralph Goto Pacific Islands Honolulu, HI Kalani Vierra Public Information Officer [email protected] [email protected] Tom Gill [email protected] Medical Advisor Dr. Peter Wernicki, Sponsorship Development Ed Zebrowski Vero Beach, FL [email protected] [email protected] Statistics Legal Advisor Rick Gould John "Chip" More, [email protected] Neptune City, NJ Ways & Means [email protected] Michael Bradley USLA Executive Director [email protected] Kay Smiley Website [email protected] Karissa Ickes [email protected]

United States Lifesaving Association

We are America’s nonprowfiwt,wp.ruofselsas.iorngal as8so6c6ia-FtiOoRn-UofSbLeAac(h36li7fe-8gu7a5r2ds) and open water rescuers. The USLA works to reduce the incidence of death and injury in the aquatic environment through public education, standards, training programs, promotion of high levels of lifeguard readiness, and other means. Corporate address: P.O. Box 366, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 or [email protected].

American Lifeguard Magazine ™Aims tehreicoaffniciLailfemgaugazridneMoaf gthaezUinSeL™ A, mailed February 1, June 1, and October 15 to a membership of about 10,000 members and subscribers. The opinions expressed are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the USLA. We welcome stories, photos, and advertising which target our audience of athletic, beach oriented people. Our junior lifeguard members (our largest member category) range in age from 8 - 18, with an average age of 12. They are about 55% male, 45% female. Our lifeguard members (professional, alumnus, and life) range in age from 16 to over 85, with an average age of 29. They are about 80% male, 20% female. Readers include lifeguard agency chiefs, junior lifeguard program administrators, and others involved in purchasing decisions. Promote your products and services by delivering your message directly to lifesaving professionals through the only magazine targeting beach lifeguards in the US. We rarely pay for articles or photos, but give full credit. We pay $100 for cover photos.

Deadlines for contributing stories, photos, or advertising to ALM are March 15 (summer edition), July 31 (fall edition), and November 15 (winter edition), unless a later date is approved by the editor. You are encouraged to contribute earlier, as this increases the possibility of selection.

Address all inquiries to the editor at: [email protected]. Cover Shot: San Diego lifeguards, firefighters, and a Ad Size Only One Issue Three Issues helicopter medic stabilize a hiker who fell 60 feet at Half Page $300 $810 ($270 each) Black’s Beach in June 2016. Learn more about this Full Page $500 $1350 ($450 each) Inside Cover $600 $1620 ($540 each) incident in the article, Prevention in the Era of Social Back Cover $750 $2025 ($675 each) Media . Credit: Lt. Rich Stropky. © United States Lifesaving Association. All rights reserved. The material contained in ALM may not be reproduced, displayed, modified or distributed without the express prior written permission of the copyright holder: [email protected].

ALM FALL 2016 (3) PRESIDPeEter NDavTis,’GSalvesMton, ETX SSAGE The USLA moves forward by building but we are nearing the finished prod - on a foundation to which so many have uct. This will be a formidable tool for contributed for well over fifty years. We our agencies as they train and retrain celebrate our many successes, but always the thousands of lifeguards who are the with an eye to continuing our progress guardians of our nation's beachgoing in support of allied agencies, members, population. It will continue to be a ref - partner organizations, and the beachgo - erence to all involved in open water an inconvenience for the Mid-Atlantic, ing public. We strive to honor our past lifesaving. It will be a benchmark. but they knew it would further our while looking to the future. The National Lifeguard Championships cause and help give a jumpstart to the were held in Hermosa Beach, California The roadmap we reference today is revitalization of the New England and went very well. The bar for lifesav - based in our recently completed strate - Region. Now New England will be ing sport continues to rise. The dedica - gic plan, which incorporates input from hosting the meeting on their own! hundreds of you, our members. tion of these amazing athletes showcases None of this could happen without Additionally, we continue our work our professional skills and they set a thousands of hours of work by our past and partnerships with Water Safety standard of fitness to which we can all and present volunteers, committee USA, the National Oceanographic and aspire. It lifts us all. chairs and vice chairs, and board mem - Atmospheric Administration, the Finally, a historic moment will take bers. Many, many thanks for their tireless International Lifesaving Federation, place in April 2017 when we return to efforts and for the good work thousands and many other organizations. New England for the USLA Spring of you do daily on your home beach. It’s Board Meeting and Educational There are many things to celebrate: exhausting and thankless work, but the Conference. Two years ago the Mid- end result is safer beaches and hundreds The update and enhancement of the Atlantic Region hosted a meeting in of millions of people returning from a third edition of our textbook has been New England, which contains a great visit to the beach safely. an unbelievable amount of work for deal of historical significance for our many of our hardworking volunteers, profession. This was obviously a bit of Lifeguards for life!

The USLA has arranged for deep discounts and special deals with leading companies that offer products of value to USLA members. Visit the USLA Home page (at the bottom) or the USLA Store, at: www.usla.org/store

Example discounts available to you: - 25 –50% off Hobie polarized sunglasses (including special deals on prescription sunglasses)

- $30 off DaFin swim fins

- Special discounts on Ford automobiles.

As well, lifeguards, chapters, and regions can purchase clothing and other items with the USLA logo embroidered on them at Uniserv GuardGear. And you can purchase rings with the USLA logo from Jostens.

The USLA is committed to helping lifeguards get the best equipment at the best prices. Don't forget to sign up for your membership today through your chapter or at: www.usla.org

ALM FALL 2016 (4) A RESCUE FROMVal DSue AND AND SURF Wolfgang Peterson, The Perfect Storm’s movie director, couldn’t ask for better opening footage than Stephen Weller’s mother, Stephanie Yeap, shot of her three sons on the beach in Santa Monica, California, on July 27, 2015. The dark-haired boys smile under the late-afternoon sun. They’ve dug a five- foot-wide hole in the damp sand, thirty feet from water’s edge, then buried one son, Stephen, up to his armpits in an even deeper hole in the middle of it. This will become center stage. A sand berm composed of the excavated sand rises nearly a foot above his head. As Stephen Weller (in hole) and his brothers digging in the sand before entrapment. the camera jostles nearer the ocean- Credit: Stephanie Yeap side lip, we see Stephen laugh and his berm holds most of this wave back. Stephen and his family are relaxing on younger brother push sand on his out - Stephen cannot see what the camera the quintessential American summer stretched arms. It is about 6:50 p.m., sees: the incoming surf on a rising tide. stereotype of landscapes, the ocean and high tide is at 7:04 p.m. The boys beach. Santa Monica is the type of do not know this. The sand just outside the berm is beach memorialized on movie posters smooth and dark, the color of just- Below his armpits, where his body is and tourism blogs, the type laden with poured cement, a contrast from the buried, Stephen is not standing. He has expected joys, the type billed as unique damp fluff piled a foot behind been buried while sitting cross-legged. among all the beaches in the world. Stephen’s head. Soon the sand around At 13 he is taller than the average boy Stephen will feel like cement. It is unique. his age, with the long limbs and large hands and feet of a naturally talented This is a home video of Stephen’s fam - The natural sands of any beach come swimmer, which he is: He is on his ily vacation. It becomes a dramatic from coastal erosion and sediment state’s youth team in Malaysia, and has video of rescue from sand entrapment deposit from nearby streams and rivers; just finished a camp for competitive during an incoming tide. they are always unique to the geology of the adjacent land. Just as surf and swimmers at Stanford University. Stephen’s brothers, like the rest of his water temperature and rip currents vary Fourteen seconds in to the video, dan - family, have no idea of the danger from beach to beach, so does sand, and ger looms: The first tendrils of an implicit in this scene. Lifeguards see with it, the potential for danger. uprushing wave reach the crater’s rim, people digging in beach sand every day, foamy swash curling around the ridge holes and even tunnels excavated by The complex and confounding interac - and the legs of Stephen’s younger beachgoers. They see people injured by tions of water and sand vary according brother, kneeling beside it. The broth - surf or pulled into rip currents. Los to myriad traits, including the salt and er grabs wet sand and throws a handful Angeles County, like some other agen - mineral content of the local sea, the down at him. Both boys laugh, unaware cies, bans digging deep holes. Their mineral content, structure, and size of of the water’s significance. But water code states, “ No person shall dig a hole the granules on the beach, the angle of from this wave now leaks into the cav - deeper than eighteen inches (18") into the the underlying structure that forms the ity around Stephen’s chest and shoul - sand, or dig into any vertical sand embank - beach, and the depth and detail of the ders and sinks, joining water that is ris - ment … ” Prevention is crucial, but not ocean floor. ing up from below as the tide rises every incident can be prevented. That along the face of the beach. The sand is when lifeguards must rescue. continued on page 7

ALM FALL 2016 (5) ALM FALL 2016 (6) continued from page 5 ging the boy as it pushes more water up similar ways to sand on an ocean beach the face of the beach. The camera or sand on a river point bar. But it will swoops down as water and seafoam not behave exactly the same. That caus - engulf his mother’s legs, and the next es problems, for miners and researchers sounds and images are a chaos of shock. and pharmaceutical makers, and more We see sand and foam and water on the importantly, for rescuers. inside of the hole where Stephen is Sand has defied mathematical models buried to his shoulders. We see the sky and scientific pigeonholing: There is and surf and tangled dark hair and sand. no way to predict when sand will com - Then we see nothing. The camera has The first wave washes up the beach pact and when it will collapse. The been tossed to the sand as Stephen’s and into Stephen’s hole. only definite is that it will collapse, Credit: Stephanie Yeap (video) mother, Stephanie, rushes to assist. eventually. Beach sand may appear to From here on, we see video when the be a solid, if an unstable one, but in fact How well a damp sand will pack and for camera is reset to capture the scene, how long it will remain packed, it often behaves like a fluid, like air or then kicked over, and reset again. But water, but without the predictability of enabling sculptors to carve master - sound is continuously recorded. pieces and diggers to hollow tunnels, either. When shaken in a container, also depends on all of those traits. We hear shouting, swearing, gasping, very dry sand even behaves like a gas, Beach renourishment (or replenish - and stunned laughter. We hear Stephen’s swirling like vapor. Sands of varying ment) can alter the character of beach mother calling, “ pull him up, pull him up, ” granule size and shape will self-sort sand, making holes dug in the sand less her voice escalating in pitch and vol - when poured or vibrated; wet sand can stable. Santa Monica’s beach, like ume, as the camera shows the encroach - expand (a phenomenon called dilatan - many U.S. beaches, has been replen - ing tide coating the sand from the crater cy)—locking into a cement-hard ished. It is one of the few renourished to the sea. There is splashing and then solid—in response to vibration, or it beaches (possibly the only) to retain gasping and coughing. can collapse. the renourished sand long term. This is We are one minute in to a 19-minute The granular structure of sand disperses possibly due to the sand used in 1938 video and audio recording of what hap - weight to the sides as much as down, and at various times until the last pened to one family on a typical day at meaning that it can exert nearly as replenishment in 1962: Its sand was a typical beach in a typical July. The much pressure from the side as from pulled from near-shore construction rescue, however, was anything but typ - above. At a weight of 100 to 130 projects and resembles the beach’s nat - ical, and it highlights many of the chal - pounds per cubic foot, this is a poten - urally deposited sands in composition lenges lifeguards must overcome with tially deadly trait for those buried in it, and granule shape and size. even if, like Stephen, their heads are beach sand entrapments, and the above ground: Each exhale’s vibration The camera pans to the ocean, where strategies that work. can cause the granules to pack tighter, Stephen’s older brother is now body - compressing the victim’s chest until surfing. He stands waist-deep in the breathing becomes impossible. water, looking behind him for a wave to catch. For a while there are none, All of this makes digging sand holes just small rollers barely breaking into and tunnels akin to playing Russian foam on the beach face. But soon the roulette. first wave in a set appears. Now, where At minute 1:26 of the video, we hear it seemed calm a moment ago, a wave is Stephen’s mother repeating “ come on, beginning to crest well over the boy’s Waves swamp Stephen’s head as come on baby, ” her breath heavy but head. He catches the wave and rides it bystander-rescuers attempt to free him. distinct against the rough gasps and with powerful breast strokes toward his Credit: Stephanie Yeap (video) grunts of family and bystanders as they mother and her camera, boy and wave While every ocean beach is unique, it attempt to pull Stephen from the sand. devolving into foam, churned sand, also has typical features: water, sand, Exclamations and epithets come from and laughter. That wave rolls up the tide. Likewise, sand is both typical and new voices. A man organizes another beach toward Stephen. unique. When wet, sand can be dug; attempt to pull Stephen free; a boy Another wave crests behind the smiling when dry, it pours and flows like a liq - exclaims, onlookers gasp, and above it face in the shallow breaker line, drag - uid. Sand in a desert will behave in continued on next page

ALM FALL 2016 (7) continued from page 5 compact this perfect bond even tighter. stronger than gravity. But once the all is the growl of surf and splash of In fact, the term “jam-packed” is said to volume of water reaches much beyond water rushing around the arms and legs have been created to describe this phe - 10 percent, surface tension fails, and of rescuers. That water engulfs nomenon. Quicksand, which bears lit - sand begins to behave like a fluid Stephen’s head with each surge, some - tle resemblance to its depiction in again, flowing in a thick slurry, collaps - times rising to the level of his eyes and movies, in reality entraps victims who ing back into a hole. panic and struggle. The struggle creates even over his head. An older man with At 2:14, a calm new voice joins the vibration, causing the grains to organ - a soft accent speaks encouragement, beach. grunting with effort while trying to pull ize and lock tightly into place. “You’re all right,” he tells Stephen, the boy from the sand. The camera has Michael Welland wrote in Sand: A even as a boy yells oh my God in the gone black again. Neverending Story that magicians per - background. This voice stays calm, and formed a trick exploiting the combined When sand is saturated between one coaches Stephen. “Just take a breath. A strength of sand and water: After flour - and 10 percent, it is at its most cohe - deeper breath. Okay? You’re okay.” sive, behaving more like a solid as the ishing a pot of damp sand, a magician water bonds the grains. But the way in repeatedly stabbed a knife into the Stephen’s mother thanks bystander-res - which the grains pack themselves is sand to demonstrate its porosity. He cuers; Stephen can breathe again. The highly variable, and mostly undiscov - left the knife embedded and shook or surf has, for the moment, receded, ered despite centuries of study. hit the pot several times—compacting pulling away from shore as it does Scientists do know that vibrations can the sand—then picked the entire pot between oncoming sets. But Stephen’s up by the knife handle alone, swinging ordeal is far from over. The wave sets Children love to be buried in the it about his head. on this afternoon are rolling in at 18- sand. And because parents and second intervals. They are at a lull. The It is this increased granular bonding in children alike have done it or seen calm voice continues: “You’re all right. response to vibration that can make it and escaped it without harm, they Get a breath. Take a good breath.” damp sand seem to turn to concrete become inured to sand’s inherent during rescue attempts, as the pressure Stephen breathes. He takes deep, gasp - dangers. This isn’t stupidity or and vibration of rescuers, bystanders, ing breaths, laughing between them, ignorance; this is biology. Human the laugh of someone exhilarated and brains are wired to be alert to new and vehicles cause sand grains to reor - terrified in equal measure, who cannot places, events, or activities. Once ganize, to jam-pack. It is why experi - believe he is still alive after being sub - exposed without harm, the brain enced trench rescuers, particularly merged underwater, his body immobi - deems a new activity or place those with expertise in rescues for sand lized in wet sand. We hear someone say, “safe,” and stops paying attention to mining or grain industries, know that “that was so scary!” with relief, as it. This keeps humans from being attempting to physically pull a trapped though it were over. The calm overwhelmed by sensory input in victim from a sand is impossible, and bystander, however, is watching the familiar situations and allows us to risks severe injury and even literally surf even as he digs, and when the time focus on things more likely to be tearing the victim apart. comes, he tells Stephen to take a dangerous—things our brains have Sand requires both water and air in the breath and hold it. Stephen cannot see learned are unsafe (hot stoves) and spaces between the grains in order to over the sand berm’s edge, and has no those they haven’t yet discovered compact and hold its shape. This is idea when the next rush of liquid will (new places). Human brains are because what holds sand together is submerge his head. adept at ignoring the familiar and the surface tension between the water At 3:17, we hear digging: grunting thus underestimating dangers from molecules and the air. Surface tension breaths coinciding with the susurrus of places and objects we think we is high school science; it is the force sand being moved in large quantities, know well, compared with those that causes water molecules to hold we do not. For example, the risk of together in air, to form raindrops or larger than possible with only hands. A being trapped in beach sand far beads on a window. It allows water new voice says, “Okay, everyone stay exceeds the risk of being attacked beetles to walk on ponds. When sand calm. Let me get a shovel. Everyone by a shark, yet media reporting of is damp but not wet, the surface ten - stay calm.” The first lifeguard has shark attacks more than doubles sion between the water molecules arrived, Gordon Freeman, a full-time media reporting of rescues from coating each grain of sand and the air seasonal guard from the nearest Los sand collapse each year. filling the space between each grain is continued on page 20

ALM FALL 2016 (8) ALM FALL 2016 (9) PREVENTIOLNt. JohInNSandTmeHyeEr, SaEn DRiegAo LifOeguFard SerOviceCIAL MEDIA

As any casual user of the Internet been as plugged in to social media as we knows, there are innumerable videos should have been and may have missed available of questionable exploits by seeing this wave of public influence adventurous, perhaps foolish people approach. engaged in perilous behavior. To the While knowledge of favorite beaches extent that these videos glorify the and coastal retreats has been circulated behavior, they also encourage it. widely in public media for all of our While the fascination with people lifetimes, it’s the specifics of lesser doing extraordinary (and extraordinar - known coastal attractions generated in ily risky) things is nothing new, the all types of digital formats that are caus - ability of the average person to gain San Diego lifeguards rescue two trapped ing increases in rescue responses. The hikers. Credit: Lt. John Sandmeyer notoriety seems to have expanded biggest problem with these messages is exponentially. With this can some - That may have changed when some - that they sometimes glorify the risk times come injury or even death. one referred to it online as, “San that is required to get there or the Diego’s Best Kept Secret Coastal Trail.” thrill-seeking behavior that is part of A separate, but related problem is the And the name of the trail found its way the experience once people arrive. publicizing of places once unknown to onto Google Maps. most people, which become widely In parks and open space throughout known due to social media. This The hiker was unconscious upon the the world, obscure locations were once crowd-sourced popularization can arrival of lifeguards. He was stabilized known only to locals or people who result in people with no knowledge or against the cliff by the initial arriving had been the recipients of information appreciation of local hazards being lifeguards, who were able to maintain passed along from experts. Their more drawn to areas where they may sustain his airway and provide oxygen. He was intimate knowledge typically came serious injuries. Lifeguards can certain - quickly packaged for extrication with with an understanding of the hazards. ly respond to these incidents, but can the help of firefighters and the medic we prevent them? onboard the Fire Rescue helicopter, which airlifted him to a nearby hospi - The cover photo in this edition of tal. This hiker survived his life threat - American Lifeguard Magazine depicts a ening injuries and is steadily recovering cliff rescue by lifeguards and firefighters from the traumatic incident. Many like at Black’s Beach in the La Jolla neigh - him, who take this trail today, do not borhood of San Diego. The cliffs there have the experience to know before - are up to 300 feet high and lifeguards hand how steep some of these sections effect dozens of cliff rescues each year are and what precautions are needed to using standard alpine rescue tech - make it safely to the beach. niques, as well as helicopter evacuation Over the last few years, San Diego life - (usually provided by San Diego Fire guards have noticed a substantial Rescue). There are a variety of trails uptick in the number of lifeguard down the cliffs to the beach, all of responses to circumstances that turn which are unofficial and unmain - out be caused by people drawn to an tained. The safety of these trails varies out of the way area of the coastline by substantially, but the more widely used enticing social media messaging. It’s trails tend to be less hazardous. clear that this increase started years Enter social media and Google Maps. before, but to a degree that had been The trail area where this hiker fell 60 underestimated by some of us charged San Diego lifeguards use their crane feet on June 8, 2016 was once obscure, with managing threats to the public. unit for a rescue at Sunset Cliffs. used only by knowledgeable locals. Many of us in the rescue world haven’t Credit: San Diego Lifeguard Service

ALM FALL 2016 (10) Standard media, such as travel stories While episodes of questionable accom - Navigating this new world of social or guidebooks, would either avoid plishments can find huge viewership media driven popularity is not going to mention of hazardous areas or empha - online, tales of risk-taking that ended be easy. It will require preventive action size the need for caution. Not so with badly can help discourage others, espe - through monitoring of social media and social media. cially when of the details of the deci - posting preventive advice. If your life - sions made by the hospitalized victims guard agency wonders, for example, Hand-me-down stories of weekend are highlighted by news outlets and “Why should we be using Twitter?” the bravado were once shared primarily in circulated on social media. Revealing answer may be: prevention. schoolyards, or among friends and col - common mistakes made by the public leagues. Perhaps photos would be taken A good example of the need for this is to news sources without disclosing and circulated among small groups. But Sunset Cliffs, in the Ocean Beach exact locations has produced better there is no editor for the Internet, and neighborhood of San Diego. At a loca - public knowledge of the problems. it seems there is little that YouTube will tion known as the Arches or Pappy’s This has also brought mass conscious - not allow users to post. Now, it seems, Point, on-site lifeguard protection was ness to communities willing to require risky behavior is rewarded not only by funded this year after years of explod - stronger measures from agencies to the thrill, but also by the satisfaction of ing popularity caused by social media. curtail the problems. knowing how many people have seen People jump from the cliff in an area your dramatic video. If people are learning about the world made all the more hazardous by through Facebook, Twitter, and whirlpooling currents, surf crashing In the past, we were aware that certain Instagram, our preventive messages against the cliffs, and rocks exposed to locations could cause trouble to the few need to use these mediums as well. If varying degrees by tide. Activity here people who practiced these extreme depictions of rescues are available has included bicycle jump entries and activities. We would come across risky online along with depictions of the first time, non-swimmers who were behaviors at trouble-spots through edu - daredevil activity that precipitated told they could touch the bottom after cated guesses of when the activity would them, the novice may be less inclined the jump. likely be occurring. Or we would to become a statistic. Just as we some - respond to reports of a person in distress. times post signs in different languages, Now, places made famous through providing information outside the stan - social media as cliff jumping sites, dard news media is something we must coastal cliff trails, and secret underwa - learn to do. A corollary benefit is that ter caves have become popular destina - traditional media are also consumers of tions for increasing numbers of novices social media and sometimes base their seeking adventure and daring chal - stories on the information we provide. lenges. Their qualifications are that they found an online video or descrip - Risky and illegal jumping at Pappy’s tion of another person’s achievements Point, Sunset Cliffs, San Diego. at this soon to be explored location. Credit: San Diego Lifeguard Services We haven’t accepted these sometimes On one recent occasion, two jumpers irresponsible digital information sources who sustained serious injuries when without response. We’ve endeavored to they were blown into the reefs by wave provide corrected information and action were being loaded into para - strong cautions of engaging in danger - medic units for transport to the hospi - ous activity by posting, with increasing - tal. A lifeguard helping to load one of ly frequency, on platforms like Twitter the stretchers was distracted by the and digital news feeds. In this way, occupants of an early model sedan accounts of the results of poor decision- crammed with adolescent heads cran - making are making it to popular social ing out of the open windows. The ques - media sites, alongside reports of person - tion on their minds was shouted from al exploits. So if you search on the hash - inside their vehicle in the middle of An August 1, 2016 Tweet from the tag for a particular spot, you may see San Diego Lifeguard Service depicting the roadway. “Hey lifeguard! Where are bravado, but you may also see posts of a rescue and offering a preventive we supposed to park to get to the spot lifeguard responses to serious injuries. safety message where we need to jump from?!!”

ALM FALL 2016 (11) ALM FALL 2016 (12) ALM FALL 2016 (13) Port Hueneme Lifeguards Saved: On March 20, 2016 the Port Hueneme City Council retreated from a proposal to defund its entire beach lifeguard operation — a USLA certified agency that had been in place for over 30 years. The proposal had been put forward despite an excellent safety record and a well-regard - ed junior lifeguard program. Good thing. On July 4th it was reported that 30 people were rescued from rip currents north of the Port Hueneme pier. 2015 Statistics: The final annual statistics reported to the United States Lifesaving Association by 140 lifeguard agencies are impressive. We received reports of 95,023 rescues from , 337,398 medical aids, and 8,628,462 preventive actions. There were also 184 cliff rescues, 255 swiftwater rescues, and 1,673 arrests. Want to see all the stats? Visit www.usla.org/statistics. Make sure your agency reports to the USLA. Find information on the website. USLA National Lifeguard Championships: This year’s Nationals were hosted by the Los Angeles County Surf Life Saving Association in Hermosa Beach, California. Hundreds of the nation’s most athletic lifeguards, from 62 USLA chapters, took to the sand and surf. The host team triumphed with the most points in the “A” (large agency) division, followed by the California State Lifeguard Association, and the Hampton Lifeguard Association. The “B” (small agency) division was won by Smith Point, New York, followed by Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue, and Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. The top scoring female athletes were Jenna Soldberg (LA County), Kelsey Cummings (LA County), and Carter Graves (Coronado, California). The top male athletes were Thomas O'Neill (Riis Park, N.Y.), Kevin Fink (LA County), and James Bray (California State). Complete results can be found at www.uslanationals.org or at www.usla.org. Next year the event returns to Volusia County, Florida. Beuerlein Retires: Longtime Southwest Region (CSLSA) President Mike Beuerlein retired from Huntington Beach Marine Safety in June 2016 after 34 years of service. A recipient of the USLA Medal of Valor for his part in rescuing several teenagers who were trapped by rising storm waters in the Santa Ana River, Beuerlein was a Marine Safety Lieutenant at the time of his retirement. Beuerlein worked as a Watch Commander, Administrative Lieutenant, and Public Information Officer. He is credited with helping HB increase its professionalism in a variety of ways. He continues in his volun - teer work with the USLA. Upcoming Events: The next USLA Board of Directors Meeting and Educational Conference will take place from November 3 – 5, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. The spring meeting will be in Brewster, Massachusetts from April 27 – 29, 2017. As always, check www.usla.org for details, registration, and any changes.

ALM FALL 2016 (14) THE HISTORY OF BEACH LIFEGUARDING

WORLDWB. CIhDris EBrew-stePr ART III

Editor’s Note: The Science of Beach In 1956, Peter Safar and James Elam most advanced. In most countries med - Lifeguarding was published in the first invented mouth-to-mouth resuscita - ical aid and CPR training is a basic quarter of 2016. Written by leading tion. (3) Shortly thereafter, cardio-pul - requirement. The SLSA Bronze researchers and academics, this is the first monary resuscitation (CPR) was Medallion, for example, requires first book to pull together the different areas invented. The uptake by lifesaving aid training to a level tailored to com - involved in beach lifeguarding and to eval - organizations occurred at different mon injuries and ailments likely to be uate the science behind current practice. times in different places. CPR was first found at the beach. The publishers have graciously permitted introduced to the Los Angeles County ALM to reprint the first chapter of the book lifeguard program in 1957. (4) In and to offer a 15% discount to ALM read - Australia, volunteers were anesthetized Lifesaving organizations ers here: http://bit.ly/1QkVqHd. The first and revived to demonstrate the efficacy portion was published in the Winter 2016 of mouth-to-mouth, but it was not were faced with decisions edition of ALM. The second portion was until 1969 that the older methods were regarding the level of care published in the Summer 2016 edition of completely discontinued by SLSA in ALM. This is the third and final portion. favor of CPR. (2) to provide. MEDICAL RESPONSE Medical care procedures for other Medical care () was a responsi - injuries also evolved in accordance In Rio de Janeiro, specialized medical bility of lifesavers from the start. It was with public understanding and local teams staff three separate medical care perhaps inevitable that resuscitation acceptance. As well, lifesaving organi - centers (Drowning-Resuscitation- was a primary expectation of lifesavers. zations were faced with decisions Centers). These centers are pre-hospi - Over the years, many techniques and regarding the level of care to provide. tal emergency facilities at the beach, devices were employed by lifesavers. These range from the most basic to the developed in the 1960´s to deal with Resuscitation methods reflected the aquatic emergencies. They help reduce concepts of the time, such as the Shafer the dispatch time and the need to refer method and the Sylvester method, the patient to a hospital. They provide which involved various manipulations a key link between pre-hospital services of the human body in an effort to and hospitals, and also provide support restart breathing. for lifeguards’ work. David Szpilman, M.D., of Brazil, devised a drowning One of the early resuscitation devices classification system based on severity was the pulmotor. In a 1918 article on of cardiopulmonary involvement in an incident resulting in the death of 13 1972, which offers lifeguards confi - people at Ocean Beach in San Diego, dence in recognizing signs to let them the local newspaper reported, ‘The pul - know the drowning severity, treatment, motor at the beach was put in use and and outcome. (Personal communica - a telephone call rushed out a lung tion via e-mail, David Szpilman M.D., motor from police headquarters at San SOBRASA, March 9, 2015) Diego.’ (1) (The lifeguards were part of the police department at the time.) Paramedic lifeguard services were initi - Similarly in 1921, Surf Life Saving ated by Los Angeles County in the Australia (SLSA) was recommending mid-1970s due to the relative isolation use of a pulmotor. (2) Various improve - of some lifeguarded areas and continue ments to what came to be called resus - A lifeguard performs CPR as paramedics today. (4) About that time some citators occurred over the years, includ - and a helicopter nurse attend. ing demand valves. Credit: B. Chris Brewster continued on next page

ALM FALL 2016 (15) California lifeguard agencies began had managed a national lifeguard cer - training their lifeguards as Emergency tification system since 1914 used to Medical Technicians (EMT). The varying extents by some beach life - United States Lifesaving Association guard agencies declared that they presently certifies lifeguard agencies at would not be developing a surf specific two levels. To qualify for the advanced lifeguard course, leaving the USLA’s level, agencies must train all seasonal the only program for surf beaches. (As (part-time) lifeguards to a standard of stated in a letter from ARC Vice care similar to a basic ambulance atten - President Susan Morrisey Livingstone dant. Year-round (full-time) lifeguards to USLA President Bill Richardson, 4 must be trained and certified EMTs, September 1996.) which is standard for ambulance atten - The International Life Saving Night rescue of an overturned vehicle in San Diego. Credit: B. Chris Brewster dants in most major population areas. Federation (ILS), which is introduced Forty-six U.S. lifeguard agencies were later in this chapter, has developed ment to advice and encouragement. In certified to this standard as of April international standards in an effort to others some lawful authority is granted. 2015. (5) encourage standardization and to offer Full-time lifeguards working for the STANDARDS a model to countries lacking them. State of California, Volusia County, While it is notable that no two coun - Florida, and Galveston, Texas are also Surf Life Saving Australia pioneered tries appear to have identical standards, the concept of a national standard for police officers who carry firearms, with it is clear that the international beach lifesaving. The Bronze a responsibility for the full gamut of law exchange of information has encour - Medallion has been in existence since enforcement responsibilities. aged many countries to recognize vari - 1910. Most other countries follow a It is not surprising that lifesavers are ous minimums. similar model involving nationally cre - sometimes asked to assist in flood and dentialed instructors who in turn train underwater rescue, given their aquatic and credential lifesavers. The U.S. is a Enforcement of beach skills. The German Lifesaving notable departure. Since its lifesaving Federation (DLRG) has a primary developed locally, without oversight of rules is a standard role of responsibility for flood rescue response a national organization, standards have lifesavers, although the level in the country. A number of lifesaving always been up to the employer. organizations in the U.S. provide pri - of involvement and authority mary flood, swiftwater, and dive rescue varies dramatically. teams for their communities, and, as previously noted, in San Diego the life - guards are responsible for coastal cliff EXPANDED SERVICES rescue. In Australia, various lifesaving The breadth of services provided by resources, including helicopters, have lifesavers around the world varies. been used in flooding. Every lifesaving service with rescue Lifesaving in areas with changing sea - boats provides some level of assistance sons has traditionally centered around Surf Life Saving Australia pioneered to boaters in distress, whether simple summer months, as this is when the cli - the concept of a national standard for towing or evacuation. In some areas of mate is most favorable and the beach beach lifesaving. California this includes marine fire - most highly utilized. In areas with con - fighting using appropriately equipped sistently warm climates year-round life - It was not until 1980 that the USLA boats, firefighting training, and equip - guard protection is typically provided published minimum recommended ment that allows for attacking fires for most or all of the year. It is not standards and not until 1993 that it aboard affected boats. unusual for lifesaving organizations to developed a system of certifying (accrediting) employers, leaving them Enforcement of beach rules is a stan - offer call-back systems whereby life - to continue to train their own employ - dard role of lifesavers, although the savers are available to respond at night; ees to the minimum standards. In level of involvement and authority but in 1945 Los Angeles County began 1997, after discussions with the USLA, varies dramatically. In some areas of the assigning two lifeguards to work the American Red Cross, which world lifesavers may limit their involve - continued on page 26

ALM FALL 2016 (16) through the night year-round, respond - their rightful place. They took up the Diego began hiring women in the ing to emergency calls, and expanded reel and patrolled the beach on sum - 1970s. (9) Los Angeles County hired this to four in 1950. The City of San mer weekends. Surf history shows a its first two women in 1973. These Diego Lifeguard Service followed with string of mass rescues performed by transitions were not always smooth. In 24-hour staffing in the mid-1980s. women lifesavers in New Zealand in 1992, after years of work in a male- Both services continue to this day. San the 1940s. However when the men dominated environment, a female Diego also maintains a 24-hour dis - returned, those women were often rele - California lifeguard was quoted as say - patch center staffed by one or more gated to fundraising, tea making and ing, ‘The lifeguard service is a men's lifeguards at all times. cake baking. Many broke off and start - club — it is, was and always will be.’ ed 'ladies' lifesaving clubs, often near (10) There has been progress, but sta - WOMEN IN LIFESAVING the clubhouses of their former col - tistics are hard to come by and at most The involvement of women as life - leagues. These days women stand U.S. beach lifeguard agencies it appears savers was certainly not something that alongside men on surf patrols through - that women represent a distinct minor - occurred from the early days in many out New Zealand and compete in all ity of the overall staff. places. Surf Life Saving New Zealand the same events.’ (7) Surf Life Saving Australia started a bit was an outlier in welcoming women later than most. It was not until 1980 from the beginning, but it was not Women were first hired in that women were allowed to receive without barriers. (6) They acknowl - the Bronze Medallion. Even then clubs edge, ‘Though they were originally wel - New Jersey in the 1960s. were permitted, but not required to comed into clubs as full clubbies, the admit them as full members. (11) Once 1930s saw the heroic bronzed and In the U.S., the USLA was not the that happened, they were not all wel - tanned man become the idealized controlling body for decisions of this coming. In fact hostility was evident at image of the beach. When those young nature. They were solely in the hands some clubs. (12) It was not until early men went overseas to fight and die in of employers. Women were first hired World War II, women again found in New Jersey in the 1960s. (8) San continued on page 26

ALM FALL 2016 (17) ALM FALL 2016 (18) ALM FALL 2016 (19) continued from page 8 was not among those publicly reported. guidance. It is assumed that trenches, Angeles County lifeguard tower. Perhaps this is another reason beachgo - by nature of their uses, are dug in soil Freeman is alone at his tower, as is ers continue to dig holes of astonishing or rock, not sand. depths and bury their friends. They often the case on this stretch of beach There are OSHA guidelines that don’t know it can be dangerous. after 4:00 p.m. on a weekday, but he trenches in sand be no deeper than four has called for backup. Fifteen seconds feet, with 34-degree sloped walls. later, the calm voice warns Stephen Thirty-four degrees is the general angle that the next waves are coming: No rescue standards exist of repose for sand, the angle at which “You’re okay. Just take a breath.” for sand entrapment. The the dry grains tend to be stable, not to slide and collapse. It is much less than Then the sound of water, close by, cheer - 3rd edition of Open Water ful, envelops the camera’s microphone. the angle of a beach dig. To free Lifesaving—The United Stephen, this guideline would require a Quantifying death from sand entrap - crater 12 feet across. ment isn’t easy. There are sparse States Lifesaving Association records: roughly three per year over the Someone pulls the camera from the past 18 years; six if you count sand- Manual will include water at 3:40 and sets it nearby. mining deaths and at least 12 if you recommendations. Bystanders and family dig with hands, count grain-silo deaths (grain is also a plastic buckets, sand toys, even an sand, as are table sugar and salt). They orange construction cone, wielded by a are not definitive. There may be many No rescue standards exist for sand man in a yellow tank. Those not dig - more. Reports of rescues are even more collapse or entrapment. The third edi - ging try to hold back the sea with their elusive. The USLA does not have a tion of Open Water Lifesaving —The bodies, lying on the sand in a curved reporting category for sand entrap - United States Lifesaving Association line, reducing the amount of water fill - ment, and in any case, that would cap - Manual will include recommenda - ing the crater with each wave. There is ture only rescues made at USLA certi - tions, but a comprehensive, best-prac - the murmur of bystanders, calls for fied, guarded beaches. tice method for removing a person shovels, the shush of sand being from sand has not been developed. moved, and the calm voice talking to Internet queries return four to 10 sand- Standard trench rescue protocols sim - Stephen: “You’re okay. Take a breath. rescue news stories for each of the past ply don’t apply. Hold it.” Over it all, there is the surf. six years. But those are only the rescues that captured the media’s attention— Government regulations for trenches The camera flashes past wet sand, often ones that involved toddlers, bene - in mining and construction address hunks and bulbs of seaweed and kelp fitted from dramatic bystander footage, primarily those made in soil and clay, strewn among craggy footprints. From or resulted in death. This rescue, despite with sand and saturated aggregates— behind we see the soaked hair and its deadly threat and dramatic fight such as sand turned into slurry by shoulders of Stephen, his neck tight against the Goliaths of tide and time, incoming tide—receiving scant or no and thin, rescuers on either side of him holding his arms and tugging as others dig, their arms plunged deep in seawa - ter filling what moments ago had been a giant crater of shallow damp sand, 30 feet above the breaking tide. Now it’s a slurry hole submerged by the collapse of the over-wet sand as the rising water sweeps up the beach face; it’s not quicksand but it is a mix of pack and slurry, one not thin enough to pull Stephen free but too thin to dig. It col - lapses as fast as they can scoop. The tide is now peaking, just after 7:00 p.m.

continued on page 24

ALM FALL 2016 (20) ALM FALL 2016 (21) ALM FALL 2016 (22) ALM FALL 2016 (23) continued from page 20 sand for more than 10 minutes now, or poly tubes are inserted around the Lifeguard sirens wail. Everyone pauses, eight minutes and thirty seconds of victim to prevent further grain collapse stands, looks toward the approaching that time fighting for air as the tide trapping the body. Rescuers then vehicle, resumes digging. The calm rises around his head. There’s no time remove the grain from inside the tube. voice rises above the beeping of the for bringing in special equipment, even While their practicality would be limit - four-wheel-drive alert signal: “Just hold if such equipment existed and worked ed in the beach environment, the con - your breath. Hold your breath. You’re in a beach-sand environment. cept may be useful for protecting the airway of a victim buried upright in okay. Just hold your breath.” Trench rescue equipment and training sand. It demonstrates, though, that is often suggested for lifeguard agencies, A second lifeguard rescue vehicle classic trench rescue strategies are but in reality, it has little application. arrives, carrying lifeguard Captain Julio mostly useless in sand rescue. Rodriguez and lifeguard Brendon Beer. National Fire Protection Association Amidst the chaotic sounds of panting, (NFPA) trench rescue training focuses Finally, 9:40 in to the video, a voice calls out: “No more water’s coming in.” digging, sirens, radios, and shouting, on rescues that are most common: someone asks for a Boogie™ board. those in trenches made for construc - Bystanders, at the request of lifeguards, Then a lifeguard shouts, “Hey, get that tion and utilities. The shoring and had been holding a rescue board hori - rescue board off my truck!” Lifeguard other equipment used for these situa - zontally against the sand, which kept Lauren Dale, who arrived with Tex tions is specific to trenches dug in soils some of the incoming seawater out, but Ribera in the first vehicle on scene, that can hold shape for longer than 24 it wasn’t enough. As the lifeguards dug, calls for more shovels. Above it all, like hours; sand will dry and collapse with - the bystanders added bodyboards, beach static, is the sound of surf. in two, less with vibration or pressure. chairs, and even an umbrella, all tightly Equipment is also sized for trenches packed with sand. They built a berm. Seven minutes and thirty-five seconds that meet OSHA requirements, typi - in, a lifeguard shouts for everyone with - A man in a Broncos hat stands in the cally requiring usable trench walls and out a shovel to back up. Someone asks surf swash, shovel in hand, tending the enough space for plywood or aluminum for sandbags, a helicopter circles over - crescent-shaped dam that holds back panels to be placed alongside the vic - head, emergency dispatchers snap on the tide. This makeshift dam is work - tim. Beach sand digs requiring rescue and off radios, and sand slides off shov - ing: Water washes against the dam and will never be wide enough for shoring els and thumps back to earth. Two min - around its edges but no longer rushes bars and panels. utes later, lifeguards ask another vehi - into the crater, pushing sand back onto cle to pick up and bring a paramedic Successful sand-collapse rescue requires Stephen as fast as rescuers can dig it across the sand. digging tools that will not injure the out. Now Stephen can breathe, and victim (no metal or hard plastic edges), lifeguards and bystanders begin to Santa Monica’s is a wide beach, like will move large quantities of sand make headway in freeing him. those more common on the East Coast, quickly, and are easily available on site. roughly 450 feet from road to water. For this reason, some lifeguard agencies The stretch of sand makes the com - keep five gallon plastic construction plexity of a rescue even more difficult, buckets in lifeguard towers and in as lifeguards must shuttle equipment response vehicles. Their softer plastic and emergency personnel across the edges make them safe for digging close sand without endangering other beach - to a buried victim. Hard-edged sand goers. For those who ask—and some - shovels should not be used near a vic - one always does in the comments sec - tim’s body, as they can cause lethal tion of news stories about these res - injury, but are useful for moving sand cues—why lifeguards don’t just bring in farther away from the hole, to avoid it a backhoe, the distance is but one in a collapsing back onto the victim. Los Angeles County Lifeguards Tex long list of reasons why specialized dig - Ribera, left, and Captain Julio ging and trench equipment isn’t an Interestingly, rescues of people buried Rodriguez, right, walk Stephen Weller to option. That list includes the danger to in grain silos are similar to those the rescue vehicle to be checked by a the victim and time: Rescue, or death, trapped in sand. Fire departments and paramedic after his rescue. Ribera holds the trashcan he repurposed to create a usually occurs in a span of minutes, par - large grain-storage companies in the makeshift air bubble each times waves ticularly when the victim is fully Midwest use grain-rescue tubes. These swamped Stephen’s head. buried. Stephen has been buried in wet 30-inch-diameter four-panel aluminum Credit: Stephanie Yeap (video)

ALM FALL 2016 (24) rescuers dig. The improvised sand-and- rescue-board dam has been used by other agencies to keep rising tides from drowning victims trapped in sand holes—in May 2016, lifeguards on San Diego’s Mission Beach rescued a local surfer buried in the in the swash area by using this same technique. At 11:08, cheers and applause erupt. Stephen is freed. Guards straighten from digging in the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Gordon Freeman rinses his rescue buoy after it hip-high hole, now five or six feet was used as part of the makeshift berm, across and three feet deep, and climb still visible in the foreground. out. Captain Rodriguez helps Stephen Credit: Stephanie Yeap (video) from the hole and leads him through Beyond the rescue trucks, the gilded bystanders, many of whom played criti - Los Angeles County Lifeguard Captain late-day surf stretches and surrounds cal roles in rescuing Stephen both Julio Rodriguez and victim Stephen the famed Santa Monica Pier. A young before lifeguards arrived on scene and Weller are able to smile after Rodriguez man with a skateboard walks amidst and other lifeguards rescued Stephen after, by building the dam and continu - myriad beachgoers, bodysurfers, run - from sand entrapment in the surf line. ing to shovel sand away from the ners, and daytrippers burnished with Credit: Stephanie Yeap (video) crater’s lip. There are sighs of relief and the red-gold of high-summer beach gasps from those who’ve been digging Five lifeguards ring Stephen and dig days, a color that seems present only nonstop for 10 minutes. The tower with plastic buckets. The buckets are near large bodies of water and only in guard, Freeman, pulls his rescue buoy foot-wash reservoirs from the nearby those cinematic moments when the from the makeshift sand dam and towers, used to rinse sand off the life - afternoon oozes long and holds the shakes it off. It, too, has been repur - guards’ feet before entering. The world in her heat. Above distant tall posed for a rescue that has no standards, orange sand shovels kept in each tower buildings, the Santa Monica and that, by its nature, defies them. and vehicle are used by family and Mountains shimmer in a golden haze bystanders in a secondary ring around By his rescue vehicle, Capt. Rodriguez that obscures people and the edges of the crater, to move the sand that the talks with Stephen and waits for a para - objects, but not the line of ever-smaller lifeguards scoop off Stephen farther medic’s check. Rodriguez’s white uni - lifeguard towers, a row of sentries along away, so that it doesn’t continue to col - form polo is smeared with sand and dirt the sand, topped by American flags. lapse. The pit is deep, far deeper than along his back and sides; Stephen is Beside the hole, now ringed by in the early scene before the tide came covered in wet sand, thick smears that bystanders, stands Stephen’s older up, and it should be under water, but appear cemented to his skin. Tex brother. He is coated in sand from dig - isn’t. But it is only a matter of time Ribera, who arrived in the first life - ging alongside lifeguards those 10 long before the inventive dam may fail. guard rescue vehicle, shakes off an minutes. He never left his brother. industrial-gray office trashcan, normal - Creative problem-solving is critical in Now, his arms hang loose and motion - ly kept in the back of every lifeguard sand rescue. In addition to using less as he gazes at the foamy swash vehicle. It is another improvised piece bystanders, lifeguards must repurpose swirling about his shins, slowed by the of this rescue: Ribera grabbed the trash - equipment for digging, water retention, rescue board and remains of the partial - can from the back of the truck, not to and to create airways for buried vic - ly dismantled sand dam. tims. This can mean the difference dig but to create a makeshift bubble of between successful rescue and body air for Stephen as the tide washed over Behind him, lifeguard Gordon Freeman recovery. A common technique in his head. Every time the waves rolled rinses his rescue buoy in the surf. grain-bin rescues is to use a plastic five- up, Ribera would tell Stephen to take a gallon bucket with the bottom cut out breath, then place the can over his as a guard around the victim’ exposed head, protecting him from the rushing head, which keeps the grains from col - water and creating a safe bubble of air lapsing around the victim’s mouth as until the wave retreated.

ALM FALL 2016 (25) continued from page 16 1990s that women were allowed to compete in the full range of disciplines in competitions. (11) Interestingly, part of SLSA’s decision involved membership, which had been on the decline in the all-male patrol scheme. By 2007, member - ship by women qualified for patrol approached 40% and that continued in 2014. (11) (13) Moreover, at the national level, 50% of Executive Managers, Senior Managers, and Managers were reported to be women as of 2014. (13) NIPPERS AND JUNIOR LIFEGUARDS The Chicago Park District faced a staffing problem thanks to World War I and the great influenza epidemic. They solved the problem in 1919 by establishing a ‘junior lifeguard’ corps to help patrol the beaches. They would alert duty lifeguards of problems and received shirts or swim trunks in return for their service. (14) By 1926, a senior lifeguard named Sam Leone had 40 junior lifeguards at his beach alone and decided to for - malize the program. He did so, and it grew from there. The Los Angeles City lifeguards established the first west coast junior lifeguard program in 1927. (14) That program grew as well, and other agencies there adopted the concept. In Australia, beginning in the 1930s, a few clubs took on what they called ‘nippers.’ The concept grew in the 1960s as recruitment vehicles, with a hope that the nippers would stay on as adult club members. In fact, many did. Free from restrictions on gender, these programs brought in girls and their parents, who would later contribute strongly to the push to accept women as surf lifesavers. (12)

Junior lifeguards jump from pier. Credit: B. Chris Brewster.

Many other countries also created these programs. It was reported in 2014 that Australia had over 60,000 participants, the U.S. 35,000, South Africa 25,000, New Zealand 15,000, Great Britain 10,000, Canada 3,000, Sri Lanka 900, and Mexico 300. (14)

ALM FALL 2016 (26) INTERNATIONAL LIFESAVING of in Great Britain. He Saving Council (WLS). The founding travelled elsewhere as well and became members were Australia, Great Britain, The Fédération Internationale de Sauvetage Aquatique (FIS) began in familiar with lifesaving in many New Zealand, South Africa, and the 1910 in France. Founding nations nations. In 1954, he proposed to the United States. (15) SLSA National Council the formation included Belgium, Denmark, France, Weldon was not one to sit on his of a world surf lifesaving body. (6) His Great Britain, Luxembourg and hands. He and SLSA chief superin - vision was to promote Australian surf Switzerland. It was to provide continu - tendent Jack Dearlove, who headed the lifesaving methods globally. (6) On the ous leadership, primarily in Europe and WLS education committee, embarked occasion of the Australian Olympic primarily for pool and still-water on a tour of South Africa, Ireland, International Surf Championships in lifesavers, for over 80 years, adding England, Wales, Portugal, France, 1956, delegates were invited to attend many nations as the time passed. Surf Germany, Greece, and Hong Kong, a meeting in Melbourne which resulted lifesavers, though, did not unite and also attended an FIS meeting in in agreement to form the International for decades. the Canary Islands of Spain. (6) It is Council of Surf Lifesaving. (6) As early as 1919 the forerunner of Surf notable that according to SLSA’s histo - Life Saving Australia asserted that, ‘It ry Dearlove considered this an oppor - is the intention of your Executive to tunity to sell the concept of Australian further negotiate for the formation of In 1971 in Sydney, surf lifesaving. (6) (This was an issue WLS was to grapple with for much of similar bodies in other states of the Australian businessman Commonwealth and New Zealand.’ its existence. In 1978, the then (6) The goal was not just altruistic. Kevin Weldon was elected President of WLS, Vince Moorehouse The organization was battling with the of the U.S. remarked that, ‘Australia Royal Life Saving Society for domi - president and Alan needs to start promoting World Life nance in surf lifesaving. Indeed, Whelpton was elected Saving instead of Australian SLSA’s official history relates, Lifesaving.’ (6)) secretary of what would be ‘Between the 1920s and 1970s, there The presidency of the Council rotated appear to have been four principles called the World Life Saving from 1974 forward, with presidents guiding surf lifesaving’s expansion from South Africa, the U.S., and New overseas. The first was a determination Council (WLS) Zealand. (6) The constitution was to advocate its methods at the expense approved on 14 June 1977 with a for - of the RLSS,’ whilst the others were to mal agreement among the founding promote lifesaving generally, introduce The International Council of Surf nations. (15) One of the successes of lifesaving methods, and promote life - Lifesaving appears to have existed WLS was to cause each of the signato - saving overseas (6). mostly in name. There was an ries to review their own practices in International Convention on Life In those early years, SLSA members light of the other nations. This led, Saving Techniques in Sydney in 1960 toured many places with a missionary among other things, to SLSA re-evalu - and a meeting of the original signato - zeal for spreading the word of lifesav - ating the use of the reel, line, and belt, ries in 1969, but no meaningful initia - ing, most notably Great Britain, South which it had so tenaciously retained for tives. (6) Eventually, in 1971 in Africa, New Zealand, and Hawaii. so many years. (6) They also worked with Egypt and Sydney, Australian businessman Kevin The Australian passion for lifesaving Palestine. After 20 years, however, Weldon was elected president and competition, which has always been according to SLSA’s official history, Alan Whelpton was elected secretary something of a glue that binds SLSA, ‘There was some knowledge of of what would be called the World Life was not shared in the U.S. On the one Australian methods in possibly ten hand, there were Australian volunteers countries, but little beyond that. RLSS methods were still widely used within organized into clubs who greatly the British Empire, the United States enjoyed surf carnivals. On the other had an efficient lifeguard system, and hand, there were U.S. paid professionals elsewhere there was only occasional mostly interested in improving the qual - interest.’ (6) ity of the services they provided to the public who paid them. WLS President SLSA’s Allen Kennedy has been men - tioned previously here as the organizer continued on next page

ALM FALL 2016 (27) Vince Moorehouse and others wanted Africa’s period of apartheid. In fact this Sauvetage Aquatique (FIS) and World an emphasis on education programs, led to the cancellation of the event in Life Saving (WLS) were merged into a while Australians wanted more compe - 1986. (6) The end of apartheid led to a single, worldwide lifesaving organiza - tition. (6) In the end a compromise was resolution of the problem and resump - tion known as the International Life reached to address both. tion of robust international lifesaving Saving Federation (ILS) under the competition. WLS also held several presidency of Kevin Weldon and the world conferences aimed at current res - constitution was subsequently WLS President Vince cue and medical techniques, equip - approved on 3 September 1994 in ment, and lifesaving standards. This Cardiff, UK. (15) Moorehouse and others was a critical contribution at a time wanted an emphasis on without instant Internet exchange of ideas and methods. This balance of education programs, education and competition continues while Australians wanted to this day, with biennial international competitions and drowning prevention more competition. conferences conducted by the organiza - tion into which WLS later merged. The first WLS competition was con - It was well understood that there could ducted in Bali in 1981. It did not be no truly international lifesaving involve national teams, but rather club body until WLS and the FIS merged. As he had done with WLS at the start, teams. In events in later years, some This was a long and complicated Weldon chaired the ILS with a firm teams cancelled their participation due process of diplomacy requiring a variety hand. He was not one to mince words to issues related to participation of the of trade-offs, but on 24 February 1993, or tolerate extensive debate. Indeed, South African team during South the Fédération Internationale de his implementation of the democratic

ALM FALL 2016 (28) process envisioned under the constitu - unteer model, it is often supplemented (This does not include the budgets of tion involved certain expediencies. by some degree of professionalism. In the individually run state centers.) (He was initially reluctant to allow less developed nations, where few peo - Here are some SLSA metrics for 2013- board members to exercise their vote.) ple have free time to donate, it has 14 from its annual report, which Such are the realities of international been difficult or impossible to utilize a include all of its members and its pro - organizations, that they bring with volunteer system. In developed coun - fessional lifeguard service: them a myriad of approaches and tries with consistent work-weeks, it is views. The measure of his success, and challenging to find volunteers on tradi - 11,711 rescues from drowning that of many who have contributed tional workdays, especially in areas 1,016,037 preventive actions over the years, is that the ILS has con - with high tourism that need continual tinued ever since that time, growing daily protection. 31,797 medical aids (first aids) and thriving. In the U.S., volunteer lifesaving was all but ended by the mid-1900s. Even Australia, the champion of the volun - Even Australia, the On 24 February 1993, teer system, accepted the limits of rely - champion of the volunteer the Fédération Internationale ing entirely on volunteers decades ago. According to its annual report for system, accepted the limits de Sauvetage Aquatique 2014: ‘Surf Life Saving, through the of relying entirely on (FIS) and World Life Saving State and Territory Centers, operates the Australian Lifeguard Service, the volunteers decades ago. (WLS) were merged into a country’s largest lifeguard service, pro - viding cost recovery lifesaving services single, worldwide lifesaving In the United States, where the first to local government and other coastal beach lifesavers came to protect beach - organization known as the land managers.’ (13) SLSA is not the goers, but where there was no national only provider of paid beach lifeguards International Life Saving organization until U.S. lifeguards in Australia, but more than 23% of learned of the concept from Surf Life Federation (ILS) patrol hours by SLSA volunteers and Saving Australia, the United States paid lifeguards are provided by the paid Lifesaving Association turned 50 in staff. (13) There are now more than 120 member 2014, just a few years after SLSA federations of the ILS. In many coun - Whether the trend toward more paid turned 100. The USLA’s operating tries, new lifesaving federations (associ - lifeguards versus volunteers will con - budget for 2015 was a little over ations) have been created under the tinue is unknown. It is difficult to $350,000, an amount dwarfed by many encouragement and support of the ILS. imagine the culture of lifesaving volun - of the individually managed, mostly In others, existing federations have teerism that SLSA created ending any - municipal lifeguard operations affiliat - been strengthened. While competition time in the foreseeable future. ed with the USLA. Los Angeles continues to be a hallmark of interna - CURRENT DATA County lifeguards, for example, report - tional lifesaving exchange, so does edu - ed a 2015 operating budget of $42 mil - There are many ways to appraise the cation and the promotion of appropri - lion, and the City of San Diego’s life - advancement of beach lifesaving ate standards in lifesaving. The World guards reported a 2015 budget of $19.7 around the world. The following is a Championships (Rescue series) are million. (16) (17) small effort focused on two of the pio - held biennially, as is the World neers of beach lifesaving. Here are some USLA metrics for 2013 Conference on Drowning Prevention, (with 127 lifeguard agencies reporting) in opposite years. Australia has little more than half the from its published statistics: population of California, but through VOLUNTEERISM AND Surf Life Saving Australia it maintains 68,320 rescues from drowning PROFESSIONALISM the best known and probably the most 6,725,264 preventive actions The volunteer ethos that originated in influential national lifesaving organiza - 329,385 medical aids (first aids) the earliest days of lifesaving remains tion in the world. For 2014 SLSA in some areas, but the complexion has reported a consolidated operating changed. In nations that retain a vol - budget of: $69.5 million (AUD). (13) continued on page 32

ALM FALL 2016 (29) ALM FALL 2016 (30) ALM FALL 2016 (31) continued from page 29 BIBLIOGRAPHY 9. San Diego Lifeguard Service. History. [cited 2015 April 1. CONCLUSION 1. 2 Drown, 11 Missing, 60 Are Saved at Ocean Beach. The San Available from: At the time of publication of this Diego Union. 1918 May 6. http://www.sandiego.gov/life - book, beach lifesaving is less than 130 guards/about/history.shtml. years old. In the history of humankind, 2. Best A. Saving Lives, Changing 10. Kowsky K. Turning the Tide : that’s a very short time. A public safe - Methods; Surf Lifesaving Female lifeguards have gained a ty discipline that didn’t exist has Technology. In Jaggard E, editor. foothold in the male-dominated evolved quickly and admirably to its Between the Flags; One hundred profession. But they still battle present state. The police and firefight - summers of Australian surf lifesav - sexism--sometimes even from ing professions have existed for many ing. Sydney: University of New swimmers they are trying to help. hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years. South Wales; 2007. The Los Angeles Times. 1992 We are a new discipline, no less impor - 3. American Heart Association. August 30. tant in the protection and preservation History of CPR. [cited 2015 April of human life. We have achieved lev - 3. Available from: 11. Galton B, Jaggard E. The Luck of els of professionalism, be we paid or http://bit.ly/1xJQCEH. the Surf? In Jaggard E, editor. volunteer, that leave people willing to Between the Flags; One Hundred 4. County of Los Angeles Fire place their safety and that of family Department. Lifeguard History. Summers of Australian Surf and friends in our hands. And indeed [cited 2015 March 31. Available Lifesaving. Sydney: New South we deliver. from: Wales University Press Ltd.; 2007. The United States Lifesaving http://www.fire.lacounty.gov/life - 12. Booth D. Managing Pleasure and Association has consistently found that guard/lifeguard-history/. Discipline. In Jaggard E, editor. the chance of drowning death in an 5. United States Lifesaving Between the Flags; One Hundred area protected by affiliated beach life - Association.. [cited 2015 April 3. Years of Surf Lifesaving. Sydney: guards is one in 18 million beach visits. Available from: University of New South Wales There is little reason to think that sim - http://www.usla.org. Press Ltd.; 2007. ilarly trained lifesavers in other coun - 13. Surf Life Saving Australia. Annual tries fail to achieve similar safety 6. Ford C, Jaggard E. Between the records. We contribute, primarily, by Flags; One Hundred Summers of Report 2013-14.. preventing accidents and responding to Australian Surf Lifesaving. In 14. Burnside R. American Lifeguard those that occur before they can have Jaggard E, editor.. Sydney: Magazine. 2014 Winter. dire consequences. The nobility of our University of New South Wales 15. International Life Saving service is undeniable. Press Ltd.; 2007. Federation. World Life Saving. 7. Surf Life Saving New Zealand. Innumerable dedicated people have [cited 2015 April 3. Available [Online]. [cited 2015 March 29. contributed over the years to ensuring from: http://www.ilsf.org/about/his - Available from: http://www.sur - that lifesaving is the best it can be. tory/wls. Some have died in the effort to rescue flifesaving.org.nz. 16. Los Angeles County. 2014-2015 others. Many have been injured. The 8. Fowler M, Olsen BA, Olsen E. Recommended Budget. ; 2014. face of lifesaving is not the same every - Lifeguards of the Jersey Shore where, but the heart of lifesaving beats Atglen: Shiffer Publishing Ltd.; 17. City of San Diego. FY 2015 at the same rhythm. We are one. 2010. Adopted Budget. ; 2015.

ALM FALL 2016 (32) ALM FALL 2016 (33) PARTING SHOT

Alex Peabody, California's highest ranked state lifeguard when he retired in 2011 and a former member of the USLA Board of Directors died on May 22, 2016 from complications related to Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was 55 and had served for 31 years. He was memorialized at Huntington State Beach in a service attended by lifeguards from throughout California. Photos courtesy of Drasko Bogdanovic (bogdogphoto.com).

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