Do Lifeguards Need Rescue Tubes?
There’s a common misconception that lifeguards can do it all. A lot of people think that being a lifeguard means you’re an aquatic superhero—completely invincible and undeterred by nature’s surprises. While lifeguards are impressive, strong, and skillful, they do face challenges every now and then. So when you see them with a rescue tube, it’s because they really need it.
What is a rescue tube?
A rescue tube, sometimes known as a rescue buoy, is a piece of equipment used to make a rescue quicker and more efficient. It’s a flotation device that is given to a drowning victim so that he or she can quickly grab onto it for a reprieve.
How long have rescue tubes been around?
Rescue tubes were first invented in 1935 by a man named Pete Peterson. He was a surfer and lifeguard in California who saw a need for flotation devices that would aid lifeguards with victims of drowning. His rescue tube has evolved and improved throughout the years, but we can give him credit for coming up with the original idea.
How do you use a rescue tube?
Rescue tubes come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, but the most standard size is between 40 and 60 inches in length. Most rescue tubes come with a towline and shoulder strap so that lifeguards 
can easily take them off and put them back on—this comes in handy for speedy rescues.
To answer the big question, “Do lifeguards really need rescue tubes?” the answer is YES. Lifeguards absolutely need rescue tubes, along with other necessary equipment such as whistles and megaphones to make rescues safer and faster.
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