This is a comparison video that shows the scene of where the rescue was a few days later when it was calm. The actual rescue scene begins at 1:34. The video starts out with a 3-image screenshot sequence of Naomi standing on the rock assessing the rescue swim entry point. Then comes the fancy Reviewer intro. My voice narrates throughout. Let me know what you think of the editing and feel free to comment with praise, criticism, or whatever. Your input is valued.
OPEN OCEAN LIFEGUARDS DESERVE FIRST RESPONDER STATUS
So far, among the 50 U.S. states only Hawaii and New Jersey have recognized beach lifeguards as official first responders. California however has not. On the bright side, other states and local jurisdictions are pushing for similar recognition.
The Example Of New Jersey’s Recognition, Details:
Resolution: New Jersey passed unanimously Senate Resolution 72 (SR72).
Affected Staff: Roughly 3,000 open water lifeguards along the coast.
Key Benefits: Priority access to emergency insurance, line-of-duty death benefits, and public health priority (like vaccinations). [1, 2]
Scope of Duties
Administering CPR and first aid
Performing high-surf and rip-current rescues
Open-water lifeguards don’t have a national first responder designation nationally in the USA due to politics: fragmented local municipal structures, ambiguous statutory definitions across federal and state laws, and concerns over expanding costly public safety benefits and insurance obligations. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] They may need to be paid more and get better benefits!
Key Obstacles to National Designation
Fragmented Local Control: Lifeguarding is managed locally by cities, counties, or state parks rather than a single national framework. Some municipal agencies embed lifeguards directly within fire-rescue departments (granting them functional status), while others treat them strictly as seasonal recreation staff. [1, 2, 3]
Financial and Benefit Hesitation: Official federal classification as emergency personnel could trigger demands for parity in pay, workers’ compensation, line-of-duty death benefits, pensions, and priority healthcare access (such as during the COVID-19 pandemic), creating fiscal resistance from local and state governments. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Statutory and Definition Gaps: While broad federal definitions like the Homeland Security Act include life-preservation duties, specific occupational categorization historically centers on traditional police, fire, and EMS. Congressional pushes like the United States Lifesaving Association-backed resolutions seek to clarify this, but legislative inertia slows formal codification. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Varying Training Standards: Unlike police officers or paramedics who have strict state-mandated licensing criteria, lifeguard training depth ranges widely from basic pool certifications to advanced open-water, medical, and rescue-craft operations. [1]
Why no national first responder status for lifeguards yet? Is it because of money? It’s More Than Just A 10% Discount At Souplantion
Giving lifeguards national first responder status could improve pay, expand legal protections, and speed up emergency response. They might gain access to federal disaster relief funds, standardized cross-state training (which could save more lives), and better mental health support.
A bipartisan push is underway in Washington, D.C. to pass a congressional resolution officially recognizing open-water and ocean lifeguards as “first responders” and “emergency response providers.” [1, 2]
Led nationally in Congress by Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) and co-sponsored by lawmakers like Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) via House Resolution 1188, the movement is heavily backed by the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) and further amplified by recent viral-video rescues, such as a dramatic save by a teenage lifeguard in Santa Cruz, California. [1, 2, 3, 4]
What the D.C. Push Entails
Symbolic & Practical Support: The congressional resolution formally affirms that open-water lifeguards fulfill the core duties of first responders by treating, assisting, and transporting victims in high-risk environments. [1]
Equitable Protections: Advocates note that official federal and state acknowledgment would help secure equitable access to critical safety nets, health guidelines, mental health/PTSD resources, pandemic-era emergency provisions, and death benefits. [1, 2]
Momentum: While some municipal departments (like San Diego Fire-Rescue) already deploy lifeguards as front-line emergency personnel, lack of uniform national classification leaves many unprotected or unrecognized under baseline legal definitions. [1, 2]
Congressman Jimmy Panetta (.gov)
Rep. Panetta Sponsors Congressional Resolution for the Federal Recognition of Open
Aug 3, 2026 — Rep. Panetta Sponsors Congressional Resolution for the Federal Recognition of Open-Water Lifeguards as First Responders *
Important Upgrades, Financial and Career Benefits
Higher pay and better job benefits
Access to federal disaster funds and grants
Easier job movement between states with standard rules [1, 2, 3]
Legal and Safety Benefits
Stronger legal protections during rescues
Priority access to emergency radio networks
Better mental health and stress care programs
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