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| Huntington and Bolsa Chica State Beach -Lifeguard Operations- |
| Lifeguard operations at Huntington and Bolsa Chica State Beach utilize four main components. Namely, the Rescue Boat, Units, Lifeguard Dispatch, and of course the Tower Guard. All four of these components used properly make for an extremely efficient lifeguard operation. During the summer, each of the lifeguard towers are staffed throughout the day to ensure full coverage. At both Huntington and Bolsa Chica State Beaches, two units are deployed for constant patroling throughout the day. Each of the units is responsible for half of the beach, typically divided up by north/south sections. In addition, there is one surfwatch rescue boat at each beach. |
| Daily Operations: Our beach operations are run from our lifeguard dispatch center in headquarters (shown above). This is where all communication between the towers, units, and rescue boats is channeled. Each day an experienced lifeguard who has additional training in use of our telecommunication systems is assigned to dispatch. Dispatch plays an important role in the day to day operation. Each time a tower guard makes a rescue, dispatch is notified through our switchboard telephone system. By leaving the phone off the hook in the tower, dispatch knows the lifeguard is still out on the rescue. When a tower guard notifies dispatch of his/her rescue, the person in dispatch will immediately notify the appropriate lifeguard unit and/or surfwatch rescue boat for backup. |
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| Tower Lifeguards: The tower lifeguards are the first line of defense in the lifeguard world. Their main responsibility is to watch the water, effect rescues, and make preventative actions. Depending on the ocean conditions on that particular day, a tower lifeguard can average anywhere from two to fifteen rescues each day during the summer. He does all this with only a rescue tube and his/her trusty pair of swim fins. Every lifeguard occuping a state lifeguard tower has gone through the rigorous 80-hour training program and proved well beyond any doubts that he/she has what it takes to get the job done. |
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| Lifeguards Units:
Lifeguard Units (trucks) play an important role on the beach. They serve two main purposes, namely backing up the tower lifeguard during rescues, and enforcing beach ordinances. As mentioned above, when a tower guard goes out on a rescue, he notifies dispatch, who then in turn notifies the lifeguard units. While the lifeguard is in the water making the rescue, his ability to see the rest of "his" water becomes very hindered. The lifeguard unit serves the purpose of assisting in the continued coverage of that guard's water while he/she is affecting the rescue. Our lifeguard units also try to make all "beach contacts" and enforce beach ordinances so that the tower lifeguard is not distracted by these duties and can remain vigilant in watching of the water. |
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