SAN DIEGO – Aspiring youthful lifeguards are getting hands-on experience in the craft through the summer with the San Diego Junior Lifeguard Program.
The Junior Lifeguard program, for ages 7 to 17, has a history rooted in the San Diego’s broader lifeguard service, which began in 1918 after 13 people drowned in a single day in Ocean Beach.
The program is a skills-based program designed to educate youth about ocean safety and lifeguard skills, with the goal of fostering water confidence and safety awareness.
The Junior Lifeguard Foundation, now known as the Prevent Drowning Foundation of San Diego, was established in 2009 to support the Junior Lifeguard program amidst funding challenges, ensuring its continuation and expansion.
Heather Rabe, program manager for the Junior Lifeguard Program and whose daughter went through the program, pointed out it’s an effective means of ocean training with proven results.
“It’s been around for a long time, this is the 24th summer having it,” she said, as the summer program went into full swing, recently offering youth training and testing on water-related skills needed to become full-fledged lifeguards.
Describing the junior program as “the next generation of lifeguards,” Rabe added that it is a major recruiting tool for the city. She said the first of two four-week training sessions is in progress for the program.
“We have 700 kids right now with three more weeks left being introduced to lifeguarding,” said Rabe. “They have to pass a swim test and learn about beach safety.”
Asked if her role was that of a teacher, Rabe replied, “I’m more like a school principal.” She added that one of her many functions is to get kids in the program to “work together as a team.”
Of the program’s success, Rabe pointed out, “If they hire 60 new lifeguards a year, 25% are directly from the Junior Lifeguard Program. They come already dialed in to how all the equipment works, radio communications, and with knowledge about all the different area beach locations (and their dangers). They’ve also been exposed to medical training and lifesaving skills.”
Rabe characterized the program as a “well-oiled machine,” offering a great paid lifeguard intern program that is tough to get into because it’s so cutting edge.
“We have from 16 to 20 intern spots open each summer in the program, and we have 70 to 80 kids trying out for those spots,” she said.
More information can be found here. For questions, email sdjuniorguards@sandiego.gov.
Junior lifeguards
The program offers youth ages 7 through 17 an opportunity to learn from professional lifeguards. It is a skills-based program designed to introduce and expand knowledge of the ocean and the coastal environment.
Students gain a wide variety of skills and knowledge, including: how to enjoy the beach safely; ocean and wave education; area familiarity; first aid and CPR; water-rescue techniques; and the importance of keeping physically fit and other topics related to life guarding.
The content of the program also includes swimming, running, physical and mental fitness, body surfing/bodyboarding, surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, beach games, competitive events, and group cohesiveness.
Junior guards are expected to participate in all activities planned by their instructor. Instructors are a team of San Diego lifeguards chosen to work with the Junior Lifeguard Program based on their work history, life guarding experience, and desire to work as instructors.
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