Ocean rescue

T

tmon930

Forum Probie
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
Points
1
I'm currently taking emt-basic and as a lifeguard, my dream job is ocean rescue. Is there any extra training/classes that I should look for before I start dropping applications around the coast? Anyone have any other tips or experience in that area?
 
Join the navy or coast guard and become a rescue diver.

Air Force has PJs
 
Coast guard is a possibility but I'm heavyset so i'd have to lose 30-40lbs. I still swim an 8 minute 500 and between 15-20 minute ocean swim (100 yds out, 500 yds parallel to shore, 100 yds to shore, 500 yd run) but I'm still wanting to stay civilian if I can.
 
Join Crossfit or some other intensive physical fitness program.

I don't know who else does ocean rescues.
 
The fire departments in my area will do ocean rescues if they are within a certain distance to the shore. So you may want to look into FDs.
 
firecoins said:
Join Crossfit or some other intensive physical fitness program.

I don't know who else does ocean rescues.
Click to expand...

haha Been doing crossfit for awhile. Love it but it doesn't do much for weight specifically. Best shape I've been in my entire life. I know there are a few counties along the coast that have ocean rescue. Just trying to figure out where and what they look for.
 
tmon930 said:
haha Been doing crossfit for awhile. Love it but it doesn't do much for weight specifically. Best shape I've been in my entire life. I know there are a few counties along the coast that have ocean rescue. Just trying to figure out where and what they look for.
Click to expand...

Are you eating paleo?
 
DesertEMT66 said:
The fire departments in my area will do ocean rescues if they are within a certain distance to the shore. So you may want to look into FDs.
Click to expand...


hahah yeah I can just imagine PSFD or cal fires ETA for an ocean rescue lol. :P
 
firecoins said:
Are you eating paleo?
Click to expand...

When I could afford it. At this point, I'm lifeguarding part time during my emt-b class so I'm out of the box for the time being. When I was able to afford paleo, it helped with bmi but not weight. My waistline has shrunk (which helps get into the cg or military but not by much) but weight has never really changed. Weight dropped initially, but only lost about 15 lbs.
 
mike1390 said:
hahah yeah I can just imagine PSFD or cal fires ETA for an ocean rescue lol. :P
Click to expand...

Hahaha. I was talking more toward the beach cities. Although PSFDs engines would fit in at the beach
 
In my neck of the woods, San Diego, the lifeguards take low angle rope rescue, or LARRO, and swift water rescue training. For swift water you want technician level training. These classes are offered throughout the country and are good resume builders. If you can get a NFPA 1006 rope rescue tech class you are golden. It is not all about swimming, then again we have a lot of beach cliffs.

These are the things I would recommend to you...
 
tmon930 said:
When I could afford it. At this point, I'm lifeguarding part time during my emt-b class so I'm out of the box for the time being. When I was able to afford paleo, it helped with bmi but not weight. My waistline has shrunk (which helps get into the cg or military but not by much) but weight has never really changed. Weight dropped initially, but only lost about 15 lbs.
Click to expand...

Can you clarify: are you 30-40 lbs too heavy to join the military, or 30-40 lbs too heavy to join the rescue swimmer/PJ/etc courses?

Might I suggest that if you're just too heavy in general you may want to consider taking care of number 1 first. I don't wanna beat a dead horse, but if you wanna take the career seriously and obtain that dream job of ocean rescue, firefighter, etc. you should be in at least decent shape. Also, be able to take care of yourself both physically and mentally so that you can be the best provider you can be, for that is what your patients will need in their time of crisis.

In addition, I think Sandog offered some great tips on classes that would benefit you. The more qualifications under your belt the better suited you will be in the eyes of prospective employers. Good luck and stay safe.
 
If you're in Chapin, here's what I know of who covers your nearest coast.
In Horry County, HCFR has a water rescue and dive team, North Myrtle Beach Rescue has a water Team, they respond to the majority of water rescues, NMB has a boat and jetskis, they are volunteer.
Georgetown County has Murrells inlet Garden City Fire, which has a couple of boats, Georgetown County Fire also has a boat, the County Sheriffs office also has boats for rescue.
Charleston County has the Rescue Squad that does all the water work, they are volunteer.
These are all supplemented, of course, by the Coast Guard and DNR officers. The common threads I see among them all, it is tough to get on the water rescue teams, especially on the ocean, the training is tough, and they only take the best. All I've ever seen on the water rescue teams are those skinny little bendable people, I don't think 40lbs over will help you any, find an exercise program that promotes lean muscle mass and endurance.

As far as jobs here:
Horry County FR posts an opening a couple times a year, it is almost always for Fire/Medic.
MIGC hires full time every couple of years, hard to get on career there, but hires part time Medics a couple times a year.
The Georgetown county agencies post several times a year, they pay about 20-25% less than the surrounding counties, and turn over alot.
The Volunteer squads are picky about who they take on nowadays, and getting on one of their specialty teams is tough.
Good Luck
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Take an SSI open water class or PADI. Take an advanced open water. Take stress and rescue. Night and lim vis, search and recovery. And try to get a dept to reimburse you. Good luck!
 
When I was an open water guard we were certified through USLA (United States Lifesaving Association, www.usla.org) but if I remember correctly they don't cert individuals but entire agencies. They come evaluate your facility/beach and tailor a class to your specific needs.

Never held any other open water certs. Just standard ARC Lifeguarding stuff, taught the class and was a water safety instructor as well.

For what it's worth I worked in a freshwater lake, we were first response for any incidents on the water until the FD got their skis and boats in the water and got to us, wasn't uncommon for them to let us do all the wet work and just meet us at the launch with a rescue and engine. Actually don't think I was ever on scene, on the water, with the FD...only SO and occasionally CG.

Too bad lifeguards4life got banned. He did and still does ocean/surf rescue in Florida.
 
Robb said:
Too bad lifeguards4life got banned. He did and still does ocean/surf rescue in Florida.
Click to expand...

Oh ya I'm so sad about that /sarcasm
 
Was I the only person that got along with Johnny?

Maybe it was the lifeguard bond? :p
 
I liked L4L :D He just kinda snapped at the end... Lol
 
Hey guys, thanks for the info! I'll start looking for those classes soon so I can start paying for and taking them when my emt course is done.

To further clarify the weight/shape question, I'm about 30-40 lbs too heavy for the military. I've always done heavy weight training so I've always been heavy. In skin fold tests, I've bounced around 18%-25% (hell, when I was a high school wrestler I was 13%!) The national guard was the closest to letting me on because he measured my waist and neck. Belly was about 2 in to wide so I started cutting weight again but decided against national guard at that point because of the info my buddy (that talked me into joining) kept giving me about how broke our state's guard was. None of the other recruiters would do the tape measure so I just haven't joined yet. At this point, I probably wont. Rest assured, I'm in shape. Just a little on the heavy side.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top