Los Angeles County Lifeguards
| File:Los Angeles County Fire Department Seal.png | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1914 |
| Employees | 782 lifeguards [1] |
| Staffing | Combination (Recurrent & Career) |
| EMS level | ALS & BLS |
| Facilities and equipment | |
| Stations | 4 Section Headquarters, 15 Substations, 158 Towers |
| Rescues | 10,000+ |
| Rescue boats | 10 |
Introduction
A division of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the Lifeguard operations safeguard 31 miles (50 km) of beach and 72 miles (116 km) of coastline, from San Pedro in the south, to Malibu in the north; Protecting about 55 million beach patrons annually. The Los Angeles County Lifeguard Service served as the model for the hit television show “Baywatch.”
Lifeguards also provide Paramedic and rescue boat services to Catalina Island, with operations out of Avalon and the Isthmus.
The Los Angeles County Lifeguard service is the largest professional lifeguard service in the world. Entering the year 2005, the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Service employs 132 year-round lifeguards (chiefs, captains and ocean lifeguard specialists) and over 650 hundred seasonal lifeguards (recurrents). Operating out of four Sectional Headquarters, located in Hermosa, Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey and Zuma beach. Each of these headquarters staffs a 24-hour EMT-D response unit, and are part of the 911 system.
In addition to providing for beach safety and emergency medical services, LA County Lifeguards have specialized training for Baywatch rescue boat operations, underwater rescue and recovery, swiftwater rescue, cliff rescue, marine mammal rescue and marine firefighting.
Divisional Organization
The Los Angeles County Lifeguards are a division of the County of Los Angeles Fire Department. The head of the Lifeguard Division is the Chief Lifeguard. Within the Fire Department chain of command, the Chief Lifeguard answers to the Deputy Chief, Central Regional Operations Bureau.
The Lifeguard Division is divided into six sections: Administrative, Training, Southern, Central, Northern and Rescue Boat.
The Administrative Section, frequently referred to as “Division”, is located in Venice, and is the main administrative site for Lifeguard operations. The Chief, Assistant Chief, Administrative Captain, and two Ocean Lifeguard Specialists are assigned to this section. The Training Section is located in Manhattan Beach, and coordinates the Division’s training, community services, and youth programs. The Training Section Chief, Training Captain, Community Services Captain, and several Ocean Lifeguard Specialists are assigned to this section.
The Lifeguard Division also has four operational sections:
Northern Section; headquartered at Zuma Beach, provides Ocean Lifeguard service for the Malibu coastal areas between Nicholas Canyon and Big Rock (Malibu).
Central Section; headquartered next to the Santa Monica pier, provides Ocean Lifeguard service for Las Tunas, Topanga, Will Rogers, Santa Monica, Venice, and Marina Del Rey.
Southern Section; headquartered next to the Hermosa Pier, provides Ocean Lifeguard service from the Southern jetty of Marina Del Rey to San Pedro, including Playa Del Rey, Dockweiler, El Porto, Manhattan, Hermosa, Redondo, Torrance and Cabrillo beaches as well as Abalone Cove, Point Fermin and White’s Point on Palos Verdes.
Rescue Boat Section; headquartered next to the Baywatch Del Rey Slip in Marina Del Rey, provides rescue boat service for all three beach sections and Catalina Island.
A Section Chief is in charge of each section and is responsible to the Chief Lifeguard for the operation of the section. Within each section are specific beach areas, each under the command of an Area Captain who is responsible to the Section Chief. An area may be divided into sub-areas, each of which will be led by an Ocean Lifeguard Specialist. The Ocean Lifeguard Specialist is responsible to the Area Captain for the operation of his sub-area, and oversees all Ocean Lifeguards for his area.
The Rescue Boats and Catalina Island are under the command of the Rescue Boat Section Chief, with operations based at Cabrillo, Redondo, Marina Del Rey, and Malibu. A Rescue Boat Captain operates the boat with an Ocean Lifeguard Specialist as the deckhand. The Rescue Boat Section Chief coordinates boat maintenance, repairs and scheduling. Catalina Island operations are based at Avalon and at the Isthmus. A Senior Rescue Boat Captain, and a Rescue Boat Captain are in charge at Avalon. Two Rescue Boat Captains are in charge at the Isthmus. Ocean Lifeguard beach service is provided for Avalon, and Paramedic Rescue Boats serve Avalon and the Isthmus.
Resources
Resources include:
- 60 four-wheel drive emergency vehicles
- 10 Baywatch Rescue Boats
- 7 Four-wheel drive Command vehicles
- 1 Underwater Rescue Recovery Unit
- 7 Personal Watercraft (PWC’s)
- 6 Inflatable Rescue Boats
Training
The LA County Lifeguard Division’s Training Section, located on Manhattan Beach, provides training for lifeguard staff. The Training Section offers both in house and outside training that is required for lifeguards who save lives in dangerous environments. Annual required training includes EMT, Defibrillation, CPR, and SCUBA.
The Training Officer, who holds the rank of Captain, administers the Division’s training program while the training coordinators facilitate. The Division employs professional lifeguards who posses a wide range of knowledge and experience that are utilized in teaching various courses throughout the year.
The Training Section conducts a 80-hour lifeguard training academy when new lifeguards are hired. New cadets are taught the basic principles of lifeguarding and other aspects of the job, with an emphasis on ocean dynamics, rescues, first-aid, rescue boat operations, communications, public relations and specific policies and operating procedures.
As part of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, lifeguards have trained with firefighters in many areas including swiftwater rescue, brush training and helicopter operations, which has been beneficial to the department.
All permanent personnel are required to be certified in various areas of training called core curriculum. In addition to the above they are trained in emergency vehicle driving, incident command, hazardous materials first responder, self defense, rescue boat operations, personal water craft, and marine fire-fighting. Also, monthly training drills have been established in order for personnel to maintain their skills throughout their career.
The Training Section’s overall goal is to provide the department's highly qualified lifeguards with the training necessary to do their job safely and efficiently.
Underwater Operations
Swiftwater Rescue
The County of Los Angeles Fire Department proudly staffs special Swiftwater Rescue teams in strategically located fire stations throughout Los Angeles County during and after extreme rainfall events. These teams are staffed by specially trained and equipped fire fighters and lifeguards to augment the Department's daily Urban Search and Rescue and Lifeguard staffing.
Swiftwater Rescue personnel are placed on the Department’s helicopters, as well as ground vehicles, to cover the Antelope Valley, Santa Clarita, San Gabriel Valley, Malibu, and all stretches of the Los Angeles River system in the Department’s jurisdiction.
Equipped with wet suits, personal flotation devices, helmets, and specially designed water rescue devices, the Department’s Swiftwater Rescue personnel have the ability to create land-based water rescue systems, as well as to perform water-based contact rescues, in order to save victims trapped in the many natural and man-made waterways in Los Angeles County.
Lifeguard Competitions
Adding to popular support for the Los Angeles County Lifeguards was its stature in athletic competitions. In races that replicate the work lifeguards do, such as the Run-Swim-Run race (consisting of 200 meter run, 400 meter swim, 200 meter run), the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Service has proven to be the most successful competitor of all American lifeguard services. Since the United States Lifesaving Association began recording results in 1970, the L.A. County Lifeguards have won the national title 30 out of the 34 years. Since the last national win by the California State Lifeguard Service in 1986, the Los Angeles County Lifeguard streak presently stands at 23 consecutive national titles (1987– 2008).
Lifeguard demonstrations and competitions were developed to showcase the lifeguard's surf knowledge and skill. The first night competitions under lights were held, adjacent to the Hermosa pier. These lifeguard relays became "The Taplin," named after Judge Irving Taplin, who donated a beautiful, three tiered, brass bell trophy to the winners. Agencies from up and down the coast would send their sixteen best watermen to "have-at-it!" Lifeguard services annually challenged one another to determine who was the “King of the Surf.” The teams to be reckoned with were Los Angeles City, led by Myron Cox, Los Angeles County, led by Rusty Williams, Santa Monica, led by George "Cap" Watkins, and Long Beach, led by Dutch Miller. Surf competitions not only demonstrated the lifeguards' skills, they also motivated lifeguards to develop and improve their skills. Ocean swims, paddleboard and dory races take place throughout the area.
In 1956, following an invitation from the Australian Surf Lifesaving Association, Los Angeles County Lifeguards organized and sent a team representing the United States to the first International Surf Life Saving Competition, held in conjunction with the Melbourne Olympics. This singular event is recognized as the most influential surf lifesaving carnival ever held. The international surf lifesaving community was introduced to the rescue can, lightweight paddleboards, fiberglass surfboards, relays and iron man competition, as well as to the overall capabilities of the modern, well trained, professional lifeguard. This international forum continues today, providing a constant exchange of information, equipment, and skills.
Public Education
The Public Education Program provides a number of programs for the public. The primary focus of the program is community outreach through school visits, safety expos and special events. Typically, visits consist of a presentation by a uniformed lifeguard, and a question and answer session. Materials available for presentation include slide show videos and handouts.
A lifeguard rescue unit is also available for display. Programs generally focus on beach and ocean safety as well as environmental concerns. In addition to beach and ocean safety programs, lifeguards participate in job and career fairs at local schools.
To apply for a public education presentation you must submit a written request with the LA County Lifeguards Youth Programs office. Please contact the office at (310) 939-7212 for application details.
Goals:
Educate the public on beach and ocean safety.
Educate the public regarding environmental concerns in the Santa Monica Bay.
Provide information regarding Lifeguard Operations.
Project a positive image of Los Angeles County Lifeguards into the community.
Provide information regarding career opportunities as a lifeguard.