The Water Safety Division provides a comprehensive aquatic safety program for the island of Oahu. This program includes lifeguard services at 19 City and County beach parks, patrol and rescue activities, injury prevention, public education, and emergency response to medical cases in the ocean/beach environment.

PERSONNEL

The Division has a full time staff of 97, including:

The full-time staff was augmented by 90 part-time lifeguards employed on an hourly basis.

OPERATIONS

Organizationally, the island is divided into four geographic districts: Honolulu, East Oahu, North Shore, and Leeward. Each district is coordinated by a Captain and two Lieutenants who are responsible for scheduling and general supervision of beach lifeguards. Each district utilizes specialized rescue equipment including personal watercraft and all-terrain vehicles to respond to cases requiring lifeguard assistance in both guarded and unguarded areas.

The Water Safety Division continues to function as an essential component of the City and County of Honolulu's public safety team, and works closely with the Honolulu Fire Department, Honolulu Police Department, and the Emergency Ambulance Services Division of the City Health Department.

TRAINING

All lifeguard personnel were recertified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Emergency Medical Services First Responder and ocean lifesaving skills during the fiscal year. Physical performance testing was conducted in all districts to ensure the level of physical fitness required by the job of the ocean lifeguard.

In-service training activities for all full time personnel included advanced techniques utilizing rescue craft and updates on patient airway management and resuscitation techniques.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Public Education and Prevention efforts continued to inform visitor and residents about water safety issues through the various media. The Junior Lifeguard program was held at Ala Moana and Ehukai beach parks. Approximately 200 children were taught ocean safety.

STATISTICAL ACTIVITIES REPORT

July 1, 1994 Through June 30, 1995

Attendance figures are based on daily estimates made by lifeguards. All other figures are based on actual cases, incidents, and responses. (Please contact the division directly for a beach by beach breakdown of these statistics.)

HERE ARE SOME
BASIC OCEAN SAFETY TIPS:

• Swim in Lifeguarded Areas
• Never Swim Alone
• Don't Dive Into Unknown Water or Into Shallow Breaking Waves
• Ask a Lifeguard About Beach and Surf Conditions Before Swimming
• If You Are Unable to Swim Out of a Strong Current, Signal for Help
• Rely on Your Swimming Ability Rather Than a Flotation Device
• Look For, Read and Obey All Beach Safety Signs and Symbols
• If in Doubt, Just Stay Out!

Return to the Hale (Home) Aloha Page. You can also use the following links to continue your beach and ocean tour of O`ahu's North Shore, South Shore, East Shore, or West Shore.

Or, you can go to the Beach Directory for a listing of all the beaches covered in these pages.

Search this site or the Web with Google:

Search aloha.com Search WWW

Suggestions, comments and recommendations are welcomed. These pages are a project of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, a not for profit, professional association of Hawaii's lifeguards devoted to the advancement of lifesaving services and public education on beach and ocean safety.

Web Developer: This page is maintained by J. B. Lee. You can reach me by email by clicking here.
Last modified: 07-Mar-2005 02:17 PM

Use of the Great Seal of the City and County of Honolulu on this page is with the express permission of the City Clerk.

Source URI:http://www.aloha.com/~lifeguards/95report.html

Aloha . . . malama i ke kai!