The History Timeline of Lifeguarding

Not everyone has an inner Samaritan, but those who do have found magnificent ways to put their selfless spirits to work. Lifeguarding is a perfect example of this. In honor of National Lifeguard Day, we’re exploring the history of lifeguards.

Early 1900s: ​ Resorts were popping up all over the United States, especially in the New England area. These ​resorts​ offered tons of recreational activities and came with huge pools. It’s estimated that approximately 9000 people died of drowning each year. In an effort to combat the drownings, ​lifelines were installed at beaches. The lifeline worked simply, as it was a rope attached to the shore for people to cling to. The lifelines were either hard to find or hard to grab, so they proved defective, but it jump-started the idea of saving people from drowning.

1912: ​First YMCA ​National Lifesaving Service​ was organized.

1925: ​ Duke Kahanamoku made lifeguarding history when he rescued over 10 people using his surfboard. Kahanamoku was about to surf when he and some friends spotted a struggling yacht, ​Thema. He bravely swam through the rough waters to save as many passengers as he could—using only his surfboard! This sparked ideas for the modern-day rescue board.

 

1957-1960: Early adoptions of mouth-to-mouth breathing when saving drowning victims.
1988:​ ​National Park Service​ releases a management policy that states “the saving of human life will take precedence over all other management activities.”

1989-2001: Baywatch TV Show popularizes and glamorizes the idea of being a ​lifeguard​.
2005: ​Cell phones are used by EMTs/Paramedics when transporting victims to the hospital. The phones allow them to transmit the patients’ EKG readings, which is especially helpful for drowning survivors.

2016: LIFE™ Rescue Tube Invented.
2017: ​Baywatch Movie is released.

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