Rescue at Kirra, Queensland, 1948. nma.gov
Today, we take lifeguards for granted. This is despite the emphasis of their importance reflected in the name. Without them, early 20th century Americans exuberantly flocked to coastal beach towns with unfortunate, tragic results. That generation ranked far, far below Micheal Phelps in terms of ocean confidence, which sadly led to as many as 9,000 drownings annually.
At first beachside proprietors attempted to address these statistics by installing “Lifelines.” Regrettably, these floating buoys connected by bits of ropes eventually became known as “Drowning Chains,” signaling their effectiveness. Thankfully, in America and all over the world people volunteered, paving the way for overly serious local pool sentries and heroes who’ve saved thousands of lives. Here’s a smattering of lifeguard history.
Australia and Hawaii share a deep a affinity for the ocean.
Hawaii’s Contribution
Fittingly, perhaps the most important invention in the history of lifeguards came from a Hawaiian: Duke Kahanamoku. The five-time Olympic medalist and Godfather of surfing introduced the rescue board while saving the lives of eight men in Newport Beach, California, in 1925.
The men’s ship had capsized while attempting to enter the harbor in heavy surf. Kahanamoku made multiple trips while saving the drowning fishermen. The Newport Police Chief called it, "The most superhuman surfboard rescue act the world has ever seen." Five of the crew still succumbed to the seas but the rescue board became a staple of water rescues moving forward.
Florida, 1949, A lifeguard promotional photo in 1949. StateArchivesOfFlorida
Daytona Beach
Another natural source in the history of lifeguards comes from Florida. The Daytona Beach News-Journal described their first batch of volunteers as "a group of hardy young men, bronzed by sun and exposure, toughened by their ceaseless battle against wind and surf and crosscurrents, asking no compensation for their tireless efforts save the privilege of risking their own lives for the welfare of others.” Undoubtedly, the affections of the throngs of adoring Daytona beach ladies played no factor in their steadfast commitment!
Earliest Charters
Seriously though, the paper went on to describe these Daytona beach boys as the “bulwark between the treachery of the sea and the carelessness of swimmers along the world's most famous beach." That fact that newspapers once wrote like Scott Fitzgerald aside, these nascent volunteers received an American Red Cross Charter in 1931, becoming only the second group in the country to do so!
Lauren Sherrill became Daytona's first female lifeguard in 1974. Daytonyabeachnewsjournal
Nationalization
The United States Lifesaving Association was founded in 1964 by a group of California lifeguard agencies attempting to unify and standardize ocean safety. They promoted the importance of human lifeguards over “drowning chains,” implemented CPR and first aid training courses along with a long list of other specialized saving techniques and equipment. For their efforts, drowning dropped from one drowning for every 2,004 rescues to one drowning for every 4,832 rescues. These also don’t take into account crucial preventative actions that have saved countless lives. As they say, “If in doubt, don’t go out.”
Lifeguards live up to their name
Down Unda
While Americans would love to take all the credit for the invention of lifeguards and their crucial tools, a few other countries were a step ahead. Of course in Australia, where the ocean literally functions as a way of life, they knew to keep a keen eye out. In 1938, big surf ripped through Bondi beach and the resulting rip current took over 200 people out to sea. Thankfully, a surf club race was about to begin, which featured a bevy of “lifesavers” as they were called down there. Of the hundreds ripped out into the open ocean only five died.
Obviously, in that part of the world they also sport some seriously big fish. In 1950, Gavan Horsely lost part of his left arm to a shark but lifesaver Leo Ryan swam out amidst the growing blood trail and pulled the surfer to shore. So respect all first responders out there, including lifeguards.
