Weekly Lifeguard News – Life Savers

Lifeguard News: Life Savers Around the Country

The importance of a lifeguard standing watch at a beach, pool or a water body of any kind is often underestimated. In some cases, beachgoers find lifeguards telling them what to do as very obnoxious. Hence it is easy to find some people saying “Who needs a lifeguard? I can swim”. Fact remains that when the tide gets too high and the waves come crashing down, “Here comes the lifeguard!” is something anyone in distress wants to hear.

Lifeguards would brave the tides and surf the waves to help a victim because it is not only what they do but also what they love to do. These daredevil rescues lifeguards have to make from time to time often get neglected but here on LifeguardTimes™, we are dedicated to putting a spotlight on these acts of heroism that happen each week. This week’s news features rescues from Miami, San Francisco and an off-duty lifeguard saving a choking woman.

Here’s what’s making the news this week:

Miami Beach lifeguards perform 100 rescues in a week

Weekly Lifeguard News - Life SaversThanks to warm temperatures and choppy waters, Miami Beach lifeguard had their hands full in the last week of April. Speaking on the almost unbelievable marathon of rescues, Ocean Rescue Chief Vincent Canosa said the weekend had been one of such weekends with terrible water conditions up and down the coast and this lead to a really high number of rescues.

Weekly Lifeguard News - Life SaversWhat would turn out to be an almost unending series of dive in and rescue was kick started at about 7:30 pm on Friday night, when five beachgoers were caught in the rough waters of Mid-Beach. The incident occurred about thirty minutes after lifeguards had closed for the day. Following a 911 call by another beachgoer, police and fire rescue arrived to help the group. Sadly, one of the five men died at the hospital.

Miami Beach lifeguards spent the rest of their weekend earning the title of lifeguard and with some 100 rescues; it is safe to say they deserve the title.

Off-Duty Jackson Beach lifeguards save choking woman

Weekly Lifeguard News - Life SaversThanks to the lifeguards being in the right place at the right time on Friday night, a woman who had almost choked to death was saved. The incident is reported to have occurred during Kaitlin Whited’s (a Jacksonville Beach lifeguard) 24th birthday celebration at Mojo Kitchen on Beach Boulevard. The 53-year-old victim had started choking on her dessert when the lifeguards jumped into action immediately they spotted her difficulty training.

Recounting the ordeal, Jackson Beach lifeguard Elise Byrd said they had followed suite when senior lifeguard and nurse practitioner Bill Horn rushed into action in a bid to save the choking woman’s life. She also added that a raspberry had blocked the victims’ airways and the usual back blows and abdominal thrusts didn’t suffice as the woman went from choking to having seizures. It took efforts from the celebrant (Whited), Elise and Horn to calm the woman until paramedics arrived and took her to the hospital where she is expected to be recuperating.

Lifeguards rescue teen girl caught in rip wave at San Francisco’s Ocean Beach

Weekly Lifeguard News - Life SaversMay 1 of every year is celebrated as workers day all over the world. Most workers take the day off to kick back and relax but not the lifeguards on Ocean Beach San Francisco. While many people love to spend a warm day at the beach, the thrill of hauling your body into the water comes with the risk of drowning. San Francisco lifeguards reacted fast to rescue a 15-year-old girl who was caught in a rip current at Ocean Beach.

Lifeguards who spoke about the incident were reported saying that during the spring, these sorts of rip currents are active and defined. The rescued victim was said to have separated from her board and got caught in a nasty rip current.

Thanks to the lifeguards on duty, she can tell the story of how she almost drowned with emphasis on the “almost”.

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