United States Lifesaving Association

The USLA is now accepting expressions of interest from potential presenters at our 2025 spring and fall Education Conferences. The spring conference is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16 at the Wyndham Newport Hotel in Middleton, RI. The fall conference will take place on Thursday, October 24 at the Coeur d'Alene Resort in Coeur d'Alene, ID. Both conferences will focus on open water lifesaving and drowning prevention, providing invaluable insights and training opportunities for attendees. Attendees of the USLA educational events include highly influential members of the lifeguard and open water rescue community. If you are interested in presenting, please fill out the form at USLA.org/edsessionproposal. Expressions of interest are due by February 23rd for the spring conference, and August 1st for the fall. #usla #lifeguardsforlife

Bi-annually, at every Board of Directors Meeting, the Heroic Acts Committee reviews submissions of amazing water rescues, lifesaving medical actions, and extreme examples of lifesaving teamwork, by USLA members, lifeguards, and occasionally non-lifeguards. The USLA’s highest honor is the Medal of Valor, awarded to an individual lifeguard who risks their life, to an extraordinary degree, in saving or attempting to save another person. In November, the USLA awarded two Medals of Valor at our Fall Board of Directors Meeting. The second recipient, Mariano Martinez of the Sarasota County Fire Department, rescued nine swimmers, including a family of seven, after they were caught in a rip current while he was off-duty. Martinez received a water rescue alert through the PulsePoint app on his phone around 5:00PM on a Saturday afternoon in June, after storms began moving through the Lido Beach Area. A 21 year veteran lifeguard, Martinez always keeps rescue equipment in his car. He quickly grabbed a rescue tube and located the group of swimmers over 200 yards away from shore. Most of the swimmers were in distress when he reached them. Using the swimmer’s body boards and his own rescue tube, Martinez was able to bring each victim safely back to shore by making multiple trips. The swimmers were evaluated, treated and released at the scene. Congratulations to Mariano Martinez for his extraordinary courage and selflessness in voluntarily risking his life to save others in life-threatening conditions. If you know of a great rescue involving a lifeguard or non-lifeguard, please go to USLA.org/heroic-acts and nominate the rescuer(s) for their efforts. There are a variety of categories to recognize lifesavers who go above and beyond the call of duty. Image Credit: FOX 13 News Tampa Bay

The USLA wishes you a very happy holiday season. Is your beach merry and bright this year? Send us your photos at USLA.org/socialmedia for a chance to be featured next year! #usla #lifeguardsforlife

Lifeguarding is a leadership role. Our “PROUD TO BE A LIFEGUARD" campaign highlights and celebrates the leadership skills that are developed and refined daily on the job, including: –Decision-Making and Problem Solving: Lifeguards must be able to make quick decisions and solve problems appropriately under pressure. –Communication: Lifeguards must communicate to their teammates as well as the general public clearly and effectively. –Accountability: Lifeguards must be accountable for the safety of those they are responsible for protecting. But leadership goes beyond the job. Lifeguards set the example through: –Initiative: Lifeguards are always ready to step up and meet challenges. –Lifelong Learning: They continually refine their skills, stay informed, and advance their training. –Community Impact: From outreach programs to everyday selflessness, lifeguards inspire and serve their communities. Check out other topics in our PROUD TO BE A LIFEGUARD campaign by using #ProudToBeALifeguard. Share this message so that others can discover what it truly takes to be part of this remarkable community! #usla #lifeguardsforlife

View insights Boost post Be the first to like this uslifesaving In November, the USLA awarded two Medals of Valor at our Fall Board of Directors Meeting. The first recipient, Brendan Daly, a Marine Safety Officer with the Santa Cruz Fire Department - Marine Safety Division, responded from his house to an after-hours 911 call. Arriving at the rocky area known as "Death Rocks," Daly entered the water solo, despite injuring himself on entry. He located two unresponsive victims, a male and a pregnant female, both in critical condition. Using quick thinking, Daly secured one victim with his rescue tube while floating the other on his chest, keeping their airways above water. Battling strong currents and wind, Daly began the difficult swim toward the nearest beach exit. Lifeguard Carter Baginski soon arrived to assist, and the two lifeguards decided the safest option was to swim the victims out to meet the Harbor Patrol boat, requiring a long swim into deeper water. Fire Captain David Bodine and Firefighter Nathan Rodger paddled out to support the effort. Together, the rescuers lifted the victims aboard the Harbor Patrol boat and began CPR en route to the harbor. Despite their tireless efforts, both victims ultimately succumbed to their injuries. As so very well said in the award submission, "As first responders, it is important to remember that even when you apply all your training and respond with maximum effort, sometimes the outcomes cannot be what we had hoped. There will always be situations and conditions that prevent us from achieving the outcome that we most desire. But at the end of the day, it’s the efforts of the rescuers that may bring some comfort to the victims’ families, knowing that so much effort and risk was put forth in effort to save their loved ones." Congratulations to Brendan Daly for his extraordinary service and utmost courage in the face of life-threatening conditions. If you know of a great rescue involving a lifeguard or non-lifeguard, visit USLA.org/heroic-acts to nominate the rescuer(s). Image Credit: Santa Cruz Sentinel Note: While this writeup highlights the Medal of Valor, other Heroic Acts Awards were given for this event. Congratulations to all awardees for their outstanding dedication. #usla #lifeguardsforlife

Agency Spotlight: Virginia Beach Department of EMS, Virginia The City of Virginia Beach Department of Emergency Medical Services (VBEMS) first obtained recognition as a USLA certified agency in 2010 when the department assumed responsibility for guarding the beaches in the Sandbridge community area in the City of Virginia Beach. VBEMS employs a full-time Brigade Chief of Marine Operations who oversees the Sandbridge Lifeguard program with the assistance of three full time paramedics. VBEMS Lifeguards provide preventive lifeguarding on approximately five miles of beach in the Sandbridge community. Lifeguard stands are located at the Market Beach area and Little Island Park with roving patrols covering the remaining three and-a-half miles of beach. VBEMS hires roughly 75 part time seasonal ocean rescue lifeguards each year. All seasonal ocean lifeguards are trained in CPR and Advanced First Aid and each of the seasonal Lifeguard Supervisors are required to be certified at the Emergency Medical Technician level or higher. These personnel along with the full-time VBEMS staff ensure the highest level of medical care is provided to any emergencies on the Sandbridge beaches. In addition to preventative lifeguarding and responding to emergencies both in the water and on the beach, the VBEMS fosters the next generation of ocean lifeguards through the Sandbridge Junior Lifeguard Program. Some of these junior lifeguards go on to join the ocean rescue service creating a legacy of safety and service on the beaches of the Sandbridge community. See the full list of USLA Certified Agencies at USLA.org/certified #usla #lifeguardsforlife

Each Fall at the national meeting, the USLA awards a Junior Lifeguard of the Year award to a Junior Guard member whose character, performance and attitude best represent the mission of the USLA. This year, it was a three-way tie! In order of appearance, congratulations to: –Mateo of the Los Angeles County Junior Lifeguard Program, who was chosen for his eagerness to learn and grow beyond his agency’s expectations, and quick thinking and bravery during a real-life rescue of a person caught in a rip current while on a boogie board. Aside from being chosen as a USLA Junior Lifeguard of the Year, Mateo was awarded the Los Angeles County Junior Lifeguard Cadet of the Year award, as well as the Southwest Region, California Surf Lifesaving Association's Bob Burnside Junior Lifeguard of the Year Scholarship. –Lucy of Oceanside Junior Lifeguards has consistently demonstrated dedication, passion, and skill in lifesaving to her agency since the age of nine. Now at 14 years old, Lucy was chosen for her responsibility in leadership, as well as her work ethic and community drive. It is clear that Lucy is a role model to her peers, which she showcased during her position as an assistant this past year. –Zane of the Los Angeles County Junior Lifeguard Program was chosen for his contagious kindness and sense of humor. He spreads his positivity to his instructors, teammates and agency overall. Zane also demonstrates his unwavering love for the ocean by spending all of his spare time at the beach, surfing or body surfing. #usla #lifeguardsforlife

Our “PROUD TO BE A LIFEGUARD” campaign celebrates what it means to be a lifeguard, and that means being part of a family. Lifeguards build community through their shared purpose of keeping the swimming public safe, and teamwork through their reliance on each other in emergency situations. Trust and communication are essential to the job. Being part of a family also means having a support system when you need it most. Lifeguarding is mentally and physically challenging, so relying on a fellow lifeguard who understands what you may be going through in times of difficulty or stress can be helpful. Celebrate our family with us! Check out other topics in our PROUD TO BE A LIFEGUARD campaign by exploring our previous posts or by using #ProudToBeALifeguard. #usla #lifeguardsforlife

Are you shopping for a special lifeguard this holiday season? Then check out the USLA’s online store! Merchandise includes a brand new comfort colors long sleeve shirt in our most popular design, various other items of clothing, a lunchbox, travel bags, hats and more. Items like our 60th anniversary challenge coin, stickers, patches, socks and mugs make perfect stocking stuffers! Shop now while supplies last at USLA.org/merchandise.

These lifeguards are officially ski operator-certified! Take a look back with us at the Personal Rescue Watercraft Certification course South Walton Fire District held recently in Santa Rosa Beach. Lifeguard agencies at the course include: South Walton Fire District Gulf Shores Fire Rescue Navarre Beach Lifeguards Panama City Beach Fire Rescue Orange Beach Surf Rescue Okaloosa Island Firefighters Great job to everyone involved who made this a beneficial off-season training opportunity for some of the Emerald Coast’s best in surf rescue. #usla #lifeguardsforlife