Aquatic Safety in Aquatic Safety in California State ParksCalifornia State Parks

Alex Peabody

Aquatic Safety Specialist

Public Safety Division

Lifeguarding HistoryLifeguarding History

Since humans began to explore the oceans, lives have been lost at sea.

Lifeguards on beaches in Lifeguards on beaches in California began in the late California began in the late

1930’s1930’s The influx of swimmers into

the surf-zone in Southern California lead to large scale drownings:

Early 1900’s Newport Beach, 18 drowned in one weekend early 1900’s

1918 - San Diego 13 people drowned in one day

1938: Doheny, San Clemente State Beaches have lifeguard services provided by county of Orange.

California municipalities California municipalities developed lifeguard servicesdeveloped lifeguard services

Numerous beaches had “swim lines” or “lifelines” which were ropes attached to shore that waders clung to. However, lifelines proved inadequate because struggling swimmers were not always able to hold onto them.

Municipalities assigned police officers, or Municipalities assigned police officers, or asked volunteers to perform water asked volunteers to perform water

rescues.rescues. Early lifeguard rescue tools

included: row boats (dory boats), paddle boards, and throw-lines.

Swimming rescues were considered a last resort by these pioneer lifeguards. Duke

Kahanamoku became a national hero when he used his surfboard to rescue 12 men from a capsized boat in high surf off Newport, Ca.

.

1950 – Development of the State 1950 – Development of the State Lifeguard ServiceLifeguard Service

1950: Robert Isenor, a former Newport City Lifeguard is hired as a seasonal employee to develop the first State Lifeguard program at Huntington State Beach.

He hired 17 seasonal lifeguards, who worked out of ten towers with no phones or radios and were supported by one jeep. State Lifeguards performed 27 swimmer rescues that first summer. Beach attendance was 211,000 that year.

1953 – Huntington State Beach 1953 – Huntington State Beach 1953: Robert Isenor is

appointed in first full-time lifeguard classification as District Lifeguard Supervisor with a starting pay of $341 per month.

The Boy Scout National Jamboree brings 14,000 scouts to Huntington State Beach and Isenor’s crew is acknowledged in Life Magazine for their outstanding safety record during this event (no drownings).

1962 – Formalized Lifeguard 1962 – Formalized Lifeguard Training begins:Training begins:

1962: Lifeguard testing and training is formalized to include 1000 yard swim, 600 yard run-swim-run and 20 hours of in-service first aid and rescue instruction. Training is held at each park unit.

1964 – First Surfwatch Rescue 1964 – First Surfwatch Rescue Boat is launched:Boat is launched:

1964: Lifeguard Rescue Boat “Surfwatch” launched & makes dramatic mass rescue of 36 victims from one rip current at Huntington State Beach.

Second Rescue Boat, “Sea Ranger” is launched at Salton Sea: lifeguards provide six months of service at Salton Sea.

1974 – California State Parks becomes the first 1974 – California State Parks becomes the first agency in the nation to have armed peace agency in the nation to have armed peace

officer lifeguardsofficer lifeguards

1974: Isenor pushes to have the Permanent Lifeguard series included in the peace officer training and California State Parks becomes the first agency in the nation to have armed lifeguards with full peace officer powers.

The legacy of Robert IsenorThe legacy of Robert Isenor

Robert Isenor continued directing lifeguard services for 33 years, retiring in 1983.

Facts and Figures about our Facts and Figures about our Aquatic Recreation ResourcesAquatic Recreation ResourcesOf the 278 California State Park Units 155 (over half) have an aquatic recreation

component

Miles of ocean coastline within California State Parks: approx. 300 miles

Miles of reservoir/lake shoreline: 625 miles

Visitor Survey InformationVisitor Survey Information

Over 50 million people visit California State Parks each year.

#1 Reason given for visiting a State Park?

WATER!!

“…“…creating opportunities for high-creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation.”quality outdoor recreation.”

With… “outstanding [Aquatic] With… “outstanding [Aquatic] recreation opportunities…” recreation opportunities…”

comes RISK.comes RISK. Drowning is the number one cause of death in

the State Park System Year: Drownings: Other Fatalities:

1998……………………15…………………….4 1999……………………18…………………….8 2000……………………14……………………11 2001……………………17……………………17 2002……………………22……………………16 2003……………………25……………………23 2004……………………31……………………23

2005 Drownings:2005 Drownings:

24 Drowning Deaths

Unintentional Fatalities 2004-2005 (sub-categories):Unintentional Fatalities 2004-2005 (sub-categories): Drowning remains the primary cause of Unintentional Drowning remains the primary cause of Unintentional

Death in the California State Park System.Death in the California State Park System.

Aircraft 5

Aircraft 3

Bicycle 0

Bicycle 1

Drowning 24

Drowning 31

Fall 5

Fall 2

Motor Vehicle 10

Motor Vehicle 10

PWC 1

PWC 0

Vessel 4

Vessel 4

Other 4

Other 2

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

2005

2004

Aircraft Bicycle Drowning Fall Motor Vehicle PWC Vessel Other

Unintentional Fatalities 2005 (% of sub-categories):Unintentional Fatalities 2005 (% of sub-categories):Drowning deaths represent the highest percentage of all Drowning deaths represent the highest percentage of all

unintentional fatalities.unintentional fatalities.

Drowning45%

Motor Vehicle19%

Personal Watercraft2%

Vessel8% Other

8%

Aircraft9%

Fall9%

Aircraft

Drowning

Fall

Motor Vehicle

Personal Watercraft

Vessel

Other

2005 Drowning Analysis2005 Drowning AnalysisDrownings by District:

Angeles 1 Central Valley  2 Channel Coast  1 Gold Fields  3 Inland Empire   2 Mendocino  1 North Bay   7 North Coast Redwoods 1 Orange Coast   1 San Diego 1 Santa Cruz  2 San Luis Obispo Coast 1 Sierra District 1

TOTAL: 24

Drownings by Activity: Boating Related………..2 Diving……………………4 Climbing/Walking on rocks/beach………...0Fishing…………………..1 Rescue Attempt………..0 Surfing…………………..3 Swimming / Wading…………………11 Unknown………………..3 

    Total:…………………..24

2005 Drowning Analysis2005 Drowning Analysis

Guarded Water Drownings……0

Unguarded Water Drownings…...24

Salt Water……15

Fresh Water…. 9

Drownings by Month in 2005Drownings by Month in 2005 January………………………………..0 February………………………………1 March…………………………………1 April…………………………………..1 May…………………………………...3 June…………………………………...4 July……………………………………5 August………………………………...3 September…………………………….1 October……………………………….2 November…………………………….2 December…………………………….1

Total: 24

Most Drownings in Most Drownings in California State Parks occurCalifornia State Parks occur

in Unguarded Water in Unguarded Water

Drowning to Rescue RatioDrowning to Rescue Ratio--United States Lifesaving Association United States Lifesaving Association

Statistics- Statistics-1960’s – Drowning to Rescue Ratio was

one drowning for every 2,004 rescues at beaches with on-duty lifeguards.

1990’s – Drowning to Rescue Ratio was improved to one drowning for every 4,832 rescues at lifeguarded beaches.

What’s the Risk?What’s the Risk?

The United States Lifesaving Association estimates that approximately 60% - 80% of beaches in the U.S. are unguarded.

The USLA has estimated that the chances of drowning at a beach that is protected by lifeguards to be less than one in 18 million.

National Center for Health National Center for Health Statistics & C.D.C. (’00-’01)Statistics & C.D.C. (’00-’01)

About 4,000 people die from drowning in the United States each year.

Males account for over 75% of all drownings each year.

Drowning and ChildrenDrowning and Children

About 60% of drowning deaths among children occur in swimming pools.

Second leading cause of accidental death among children ages 1-14 years (2000).

National Center for Health National Center for Health Statistics & C.D.C. (’00 – ’01)Statistics & C.D.C. (’00 – ’01)

Approximately 50% - 75% of all drownings occur in open water.

Alcohol use is involved in about 25% to 50% of adolescent and adult deaths associated with water recreation.

What is the $ Cost $ of a What is the $ Cost $ of a Drowning Death?Drowning Death?

In 1997 the National Safety Council placed the economic value of each unintentional injury death at $790,000

Estimated Drowning costs in 1997 based on USLA statistics:$273,420,000

Based on the USLA drowning numbers, estimated drowning costs from 1960–2001:

$4.2 billion!

Current numbers of California Current numbers of California State Lifeguards:State Lifeguards:

Approximately 600+ Seasonal Lifeguards are hired at the peak of summer season

70 Permanent Lifeguards and Lifeguard Supervisors

Aquatic Rescues in California State ParksAquatic Rescues in California State Parks

Year # of Rescues

1998……………………………6,294

1999……………………………5,918

2000……………………………7,835

2001……………………………7,372

2002……………………………6,700

2003………...…………………10,539

2004….…………..……………10,016

2005……………………….……5,827

How does California State Parks How does California State Parks Mitigate the Drowning Risk?Mitigate the Drowning Risk?

Signage: posting warnings at beach and park entrances & access points

Interpretation & Education: – pamphlets, panels, media programs– News releases, high surf/water warnings– Educational programs (Junior Lifeguards, Jr.

Rangers, tide pool walks

Mitigating the Drowning RiskMitigating the Drowning Risk-Through Planning--Through Planning-

State Budget (BCP) process

General Plan development

Input on beach and campground access development

Developing intra & inter-agency Aquatic Emergency Plans

Mitigating the Drowning RiskMitigating the Drowning Risk

Through Staffing & Equipment: Seasonal Lifeguard Program Permanent Lifeguard Program Dive Teams Tower coverage Vehicle patrol Rescue Boat Personal Watercraft

Mitigating the Drowning RiskMitigating the Drowning Risk--Staffing & EquipmentStaffing & Equipment--

How many? How much? The Surf Watch rescue boat deploys

a lifeguard off Huntington State Beach

Mitigating the Drowning RiskMitigating the Drowning Risk--Staffing & EquipmentStaffing & Equipment--

What type of equipment? State Lifeguards rescue a young woman

Photo courtesy of the Monterey Herald off Carmel Beach using a personal watercraft.

Mitigating the Drowning RiskMitigating the Drowning Risk--Law Enforcement-Law Enforcement-

Consistent enforcement of alcohol closures and minors with alcohol

– Alcohol use is involved in about 25% to 50% of adolescent and adult deaths associated with water recreation.

Consistent enforcement of: Applicable laws,

including Ca. Harbors

& Navigation codes

Mitigating the Drowning RiskMitigating the Drowning Risk--Public Safety Awareness & EducationPublic Safety Awareness & Education-- Develop public awareness of Aquatic Safety through education

and interpretation.– Learn how to swim!– Participate in a Junior Lifeguard Program near you!

Educate the public in safe aquatic recreation practices and how to PREVENT drowning and injury while on or in the water.

– Swim at a beach where lifeguards are on duty!– Safe boating when on the water.

Know what to do and what NOT to do in the event of an Aquatic Emergency.

You do You do NOTNOT have to be a have to be a LIFEGUARD to save a LIFEGUARD to save a

person’s lifeperson’s life Understand the issues involved in Aquatic

Safety.

Understand your role in the prevention of drowning.

EVERYONE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!