Lifeguards Without Borders

Last updated

Lifeguards Without Borders
TypeNon-profit
IndustryWater Safety Awareness
Founded2006
FoundersJustin Sempsrott, Andrew Schimdt
HeadquartersJacksonville Beach, Florida
Website lifeguardswithoutborders.org

Lifeguards Without Borders is an international non-profit organization of volunteer lifeguards and health care professionals who promote training, program development, and research. [1]

Contents

History

Lifeguards Without Borders was founded by doctors Justin Sempsrott and Andrew Schimdt in 2006 in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. [2] [3] Sempsrott, the organization's executive director, had been a lifeguard since the mid-1990s. [4] [5] Schmidt is a doctor of osteopathic medicine and has a master's degree in public health. [6] He is also an assistant professor at the University of Florida. [6]

The organization began as part of the international division of the American Red Cross Volunteer Lifesaving Corps with the goal of sending volunteer lifeguards to regions with high drowning risk that lack access to lifeguards or information about drowning. [7] [8] [9]

In addition to guarding beaches around the world, volunteers for Lifeguards Without Borders also teach water safety and training to many of the communities with which they volunteer.

Lifeguards Without Borders projects have included lifeguard instructor training programs in Peru; teaching EMS, nursing and physician courses; performing medical research on drowning; donating whistles, buoys, and rescue boards; and providing additional lifeguards for large-scale events, such as Carnaval in Ecuador.[ citation needed ]

Lifeguards Without Borders partners with other international lifesaving and drowning prevention organizations to provide logistical, educational, and resource support. [1] The organization also teaches other lifesaving techniques including in-water resuscitation, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, spinal immobilization and wilderness medicine. [10]

Partnerships

Major projects

The primary focus of Lifeguards Without Borders is doing service projects worldwide, [12] all of which are planned and coordinated together with the International Surf Lifesaving Association. [13]

Jamaica 2005

In 2005, a group of lifeguards visited Jamaica in 2005 to develop a water safety course for the national search and rescue Team. However, their objective changed when the group realized that many of the Jamaican participants did not know how to swim. Lifeguards Without Borders was then created to teach people how to save themselves and others. [14]

Dominican Republic 2006

In 2006, Lifeguards Without Borders team visited Juan Dolio beach in the Dominican Republic to train local lifeguards on rescuer safety, focusing on techniques such as the "Reach-Throw" lay-response. [15]

Jacksonville 2008

In 2008, the organization focused on teaching swimming to underprivileged children in Jacksonville, Florida. The team saw that many of the children lived near the beach but could not swim. The project included lessons, free cook outs, and donations from Sunrise Surf Shop, Surfman Monica Ruggerio, and the Wavemasters Society. [16]

Peru 2008

In 2008, Lifeguards Without Borders developed a course to train Peruvian lifeguards to become instructors. The course included lifeguards from the Peruvian National Lifeguards and Association of Volunteer Lifeguards. [17]

Bangladesh 2009

Sempsrott traveled to Bangladesh to join the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research to help campaign in drowning prevention. He also met with local lifeguards to help decrease the number of drownings. [18]

Ecuador 2011

Along with Paul Dunning, Lifeguards Without Borders helped prevent drowns in Ecuador during the Carnival holiday in the Santa Elena area. During the time there, they performed 1878 interventions and 55 rescues. [19]

Vietnam 2011

Members of the Lifeguard Without Borders attended the World Conference on Drowning Prevention in DaNang, Vietnam. Sempsrott and Schmidt presented a research "Systematic Review of Non-Ustein Style Drowning Terms", [20] [21] and members demonstrated proper CPR techniques. [22]

Germany 2013

The next Lifeguards with Borders Project was for Germany [20]

Drowning research and publications

The drowning research conducted by Lifeguards Without Borders also concluded that drowning is the tenth leading cause of death for people of all ages in the United States and is the cause of 1% of deaths worldwide. [1] The organization published an article on www.jems.com, written by Sempsrott. The article also includes other information relating to the history of drowning.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surf lifesaving</span> Beach surf lifesaving volunteers

Surf lifesaving is a multifaceted social movement that comprises key aspects of voluntary lifeguard services and competitive surf sport. Originating in early 20th century Australia, the movement has expanded globally to other countries, including New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Surf lifesavers in Australia are colloquially known as "Clubbies".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lifeguard</span> Profession

A lifeguard is a rescuer who supervises the safety and rescue of swimmers, surfers, and other water sports participants such as in a swimming pool, water park, beach, spa, river and lake. Lifeguards are trained in swimming and CPR/AED first aid, certified in water rescue using a variety of aids and equipment depending on requirements of their particular venue. In some areas, lifeguards are part of the emergency services system to incidents and in some communities, lifeguards may function as the primary EMS provider.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">German Life Saving Association</span> Relief organization for life saving in Germany

The German Life Saving Association is a relief organization for life saving in Germany. The DLRG is the largest voluntary lifesaving organization in the world.

The Royal Life Saving Society UK is a drowning prevention charity founded in 1891 in the UK. It has had Royal Patronage since 1904.

Surf Life Saving Northern Region is the largest of four regions that make up Surf Life Saving New Zealand. As of the 2021/2022 season, it is made up of 18 clubs that look after 22 patrol locations from Ahipara to Raglan on the West Coast and from Whangārei Heads to Takapuna on the East Coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surf Life Saving New Zealand</span>

Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) is the national association representing 74 Surf Life Saving Clubs in New Zealand. The organisation's motto is 'In it for Life'. This refers to both the long relationship many members have with the organisation, as well as to the organisation's purpose of preventing drowning and injury, thereby saving lives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Life Saving Federation</span> Umbrella organization of the national lifesaving organizations

The International Life Saving Federation (ILS) is an organisation for drowning prevention, water safety, lifesaving and lifesaving sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Lifesaving Association</span> Nonprofit professional association

The United States Lifesaving Association is a nonprofit professional association of beach lifeguards and open water rescuers in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Life Saving Society Canada</span> Canadian registered charity

The Royal Life Saving Society Canada, commonly known as the Lifesaving Society or LSS, is a Canadian registered charity that works to prevent water-related injuries through various programs across Canada. The Lifesaving Society is an independent organization that is composed of ten provincial/territorial branches, tens of thousands of individual members, and over 4,000 affiliated swimming pools, waterfronts, schools and clubs. The Society helps prevent drowning and aquatic injury through its training programs, public education, drowning-prevention research, safety management and overseeing the sport of lifesaving. They are one of five recognized first aid training organizations in Canada, alongside the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, and the Canadian Ski Patrol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surf Life Saving Australia</span>

Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) is an Australian not-for-profit community organisation that promotes water safety and provides surf rescue services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lifesaving</span> Act involving rescue, resuscitation and first aid

Lifesaving is the act involving rescue, resuscitation and first aid. It often refers to water safety and aquatic rescue; however, it could include ice rescue, flood and river rescue, swimming pool rescue and other emergency medical services. Lifesaving also refers to sport where lifesavers compete based on skills, speed and teamwork. Lifesaving activities specialized in oceanic environment is called surf lifesaving or coastal lifesaving.

<i>Bondi Rescue</i> Australian factual television program

Bondi Rescue is an Australian factual television program which is broadcast on Network 10. The program follows the daily lives and routines of the Waverley Council professional lifeguards who patrol Bondi Beach.

The ILS World Life Saving Championships are the world championships for lifesaving sport events. They are sanctioned by the International Life Saving Federation (ILS), conducted every 2 years, and formerly marketed and known as the ‘Rescue’ series, for example – Rescue 2008.

National Water Life Saving Association (NWLSA), also known as Chinese Taipei Water Life Saving Association (CTWLSA), is the major lifesaving organization in Taiwan. The organization's members are mainly volunteer lifesavers, police officers, firefighters and civilians who are enthusiastic about water sports, water safety awareness and water rescue events.

The International Surf Lifesaving Association (ISLA) is a nonprofit organization that advances professional lifesaving development to areas in need around the globe. ISLA uses latest technology to identify areas in need. ISLA advances development through lifeguard training programs and aquatic rescue operation consults, lifeguard exchanges, equipment donations, and by integrating with drowning prevention organizations to share information, techniques, stories, and culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Red Cross Volunteer Life Saving Corps Station</span> United States historic place

American Red Cross Volunteer Life Saving Corps Station is a national historic site located at 2 Ocean Front North, Jacksonville Beach, Florida in Duval County. The building, constructed in 1947, is an example in the Art Modeme Style of local architect Jefferson Davis Powell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lifesaving South Africa</span>

Lifesaving South Africa (LSA) is a South African organisation that promotes water safety and provides surf rescue services. LSA is a founding member organisation of the International Life Saving Federation, and a member of Royal Life Saving Society. It is recognised by DSAC and SASCOC.

Simon Lewis is an Australian lifeguard and volunteer surf lifesaver. Once the former St Kilda Lifesaving Club Captain, he is the only Australian lifeguard to have worked both major migration routes in Europe. He first became part of a team of six on lesvos Greece with International Surf Lifesaving Association (ISLA). Since joining the mission with ISLA, Lewis has completed seven humanitarian rescue missions with six NGOs saving the lives of over 1,900 African and Syrian refugees as they attempted to cross the dangerous waters of the Mediterranean Sea to Greece and Italy. As well as being the first Australian to become the head of mission on the central migration route for the German NGO Mission Lifeline, Lewis participated in the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) yearly telethon which raised over $800,000 for the organisation to continue to help those in dire need.

The Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club, established in 1908, is located at Freshwater Beach in Australia. It has become a large volunteer organization with strong community bonds. The club was founded by a push from government to foster safer beach practices. It is a part of Surf Life Saving Australia, a not-for-profit organization committed to keeping the beach safe for patrons and providing beach rescue services. A visit to the club from United States' surfer, Duke Kahanamoku, in 1914 helped initiate the sport of surfing in Australia.

Pakistan Life Saving Foundation is a registered Non-Government Organization (NGO) in Pakistan. This internationally accredited NGO was established in 2004 for the purpose of providing life-saving services along the beaches of Karachi (Pakistan). It is the country's only privately run, near-shore drowning prevention and rescue body. It employs around 250 trained lifeguards that belong to the neighboring coastal fishing communities.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Lifeguards without Borders Fights Drowning - Patient Care - @". Jems.com. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  2. ↑ "Lifeguards Without Borders". 904area.com. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  3. 1 2 Surf, ISLA (15 October 2011). "Lifeguards without Borders | ISLA | ISLA". islasurf.org. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  4. ↑ aquaticsintl.com https://www.aquaticsintl.com/awards/lifeguard-training-justin-sempsrott-md_o . Retrieved 31 July 2021.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ "Big changes coming to public pools this summer as communities face tough choice on reopening". NBC News. 25 May 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  6. 1 2 Hembree, Diana. "Death By Floatie: Why You Can't Take Your Eyes Off Kids And Ocean Toys". Forbes. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  7. ↑ "In time for their 100th anniversary, lifeguards plan to expand their station in Jacksonville Beach". jacksonville.com. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  8. ↑ aquaticsintl.com https://www.aquaticsintl.com/awards/lifeguard-training-justin-sempsrott-md_o . Retrieved 25 July 2021.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ↑ "History". Lifeguards Without Borders. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  10. ↑ Lennert, Antonio (3 October 2016). "How These California Lifeguards are Making Costa Rican Waters Safer". The Inertia. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  11. ↑ "Lifeguards Without Borders". NDPA. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  12. ↑ "Projects". Lifeguards Without Borders. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  13. ↑ Surf, ISLA (26 January 2017). "ISLA". islasurf.org. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  14. ↑ "Jamaica". Lifeguards Without Borders. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  15. ↑ "Dominican Republic". Lifeguards Without Borders. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  16. ↑ "Jacksonville 2008". Lifeguards Without Borders. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  17. ↑ "Peru 2008". Lifeguards Without Borders. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  18. ↑ "Bangladesh". Lifeguards Without Borders. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  19. ↑ "Ecuador 2011". Lifeguards Without Borders. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  20. 1 2 "Vietnam 2011". Lifeguards Without Borders. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  21. ↑ "World Conference on Drowning Prevention Study Synopsis". YouTube. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  22. ↑ "Vietnamese Lifeguards CPR". YouTube. 14 August 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
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