What It's Like To Be... with Dan Heath An Ocean Lifeguard
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Jul 16, 2024 Join Ed Vodrazka, an ocean lifeguard in California, as he shares stories about reading the ocean, performing CPR on a dolphin, and leading daring rescues. Learn about the signs of trouble in the water, staying vigilant in the tower, and the challenges faced by ocean lifeguards. Dive into the insightful world of lifeguarding with Ed!
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Prioritize Noncontact Interventions
- Use whistles and reposition swimmers to avoid entering dangerous areas instead of immediate water rescues.
- On a busy tower you can make dozens of safety contacts and only occasionally enter the water.
When Conditions Become A 'Perfect Storm'
- Peak danger mixes big surf, strong rips, warm weather and crowded urban beaches into a 'perfect storm.'
- Rips create about 90% of ocean rescues, and they strengthen with larger surf.
What Rip Currents Actually Are
- A rip current is water channeling back out to sea where the bottom is deeper, not an 'undertow' pulling you under.
- Swimmers often avoid breaking waves and unknowingly enter rip zones where currents pull them offshore.