Lifeguards Save Lives. It’s Time We Recognize Lifeguards as First Responders

Every day, professional lifeguards respond to medical emergencies, perform rescues in dangerous surf conditions, provide emergency medical care, and protect millions of people who visit beaches, lakes, rivers, and coastal waterways. Yet despite these responsibilities, many open-water lifeguards are still not officially recognized as First Responders.

The movement to recognize lifeguards as first responders seeks to change that.

Across the United States, lifeguards are often the first emergency personnel to arrive during water-related incidents. Whether responding to a drowning, spinal injury, cardiac emergency, missing swimmer, boating accident, or maritime rescue, lifeguards routinely perform the same life-saving functions expected of other emergency services professionals. Recognition of lifeguards as first responders would acknowledge the critical role they already play in protecting the public and saving lives.

The Essential Role of Professional Lifeguards

Most people associate lifeguards with watching over swimmers from a tower or enforcing beach rules. While public education and prevention are important parts of the profession, modern lifeguarding involves much more than observation.

Professional lifeguards are trained emergency responders who work in dynamic and unpredictable environments. They must make rapid decisions, often with limited information and under extreme pressure. In many communities, lifeguards are responsible for responding to water rescues, medical emergencies, missing persons incidents, vessel accidents, hazardous surf conditions, and natural disasters affecting coastal areas.

Unlike many emergency scenes that occur on land, aquatic emergencies often require responders to enter dangerous environments where conditions can change in seconds. Strong currents, heavy surf, cold water, poor visibility, and difficult access points can significantly increase the risks faced by rescue personnel.

Every successful rescue requires a combination of physical fitness, technical skill, emergency medical training, and sound judgment. These are the same qualities that communities expect from all public safety professionals.

Why Lifeguards as First Responders Matters

Recognizing lifeguards as first responders is about more than a title. It is about ensuring that lifeguards receive the professional recognition, support, and resources appropriate for the work they perform every day.

Open-water lifeguards frequently provide immediate medical care before the arrival of fire department personnel, paramedics, or ambulance crews. In many incidents, the actions taken during the first few minutes can determine whether a victim survives.

Recognition can also help increase public awareness of the profession. Many beachgoers are surprised to learn that lifeguards routinely perform advanced rescues, manage major emergencies, coordinate search operations, and work closely with other public safety agencies. Official recognition would help educate the public about the critical role lifeguards play in community safety.

In addition, recognition may support improved recruitment and retention efforts. Public safety agencies throughout the country continue to face staffing challenges, and many lifeguard agencies are no exception. A clearer understanding of the profession’s responsibilities can help attract qualified candidates who are committed to careers in lifesaving and emergency response.

Four Ways You Can Support Lifeguards as First Responders

If you believe lifeguards deserve recognition as First Responders, there are several ways you can help advance this effort.

1. Contact Your Representatives

Help educate elected officials about the importance of recognizing lifeguards as first responders and encourage them to support legislation that advances this effort.

2. Sign the Petition

Show your support by adding your name to the growing number of individuals advocating for lifeguards as first responders.

3. Share the Campaign

Help raise awareness by sharing information with friends, family members, coworkers, and fellow public safety professionals.

4. Join the Coalition

Organizations, agencies, and individuals can help strengthen the movement by joining the coalition supporting lifeguards as first responders.

Looking Ahead

Lifeguards have been protecting the public for generations. They rescue victims from dangerous environments, provide emergency medical care, conduct search and rescue operations, and frequently serve as the first line of response during aquatic emergencies.

The movement to recognize lifeguards as first responders is not about changing what lifeguards do—it is about recognizing the life-saving work they have already been doing for decades. As awareness continues to grow, supporters hope that policymakers, community leaders, and the public will better understand the essential role that professional lifeguards play in keeping our waterways safe.

ISLA proudly supports efforts that advance professional lifesaving worldwide and encourages everyone in the aquatic safety community to take action. By working together, we can help ensure that the contributions of professional lifeguards receive the recognition they deserve and that future generations of lifesavers continue to protect communities around the world.