Lifeguard uniform requirements are basically the same throughout the world, men’s lifeguard board shorts, women’s lifeguard swimsuits and t-shirts printed with the words Lifeguard or guard. Board short lengths are designated by each lifeguard agency. Long board shorts can hinder leg movement and interfere with rescues. Lifeguard apparel should always be made from rash free material, lifeguard board shorts should have oversized closure pockets with a locking loop and drain holes that allow the water to get out instead of weigh you down. Men’s lifeguard boardshorts should not drag or stick to your legs when wet. Women’s lifeguard swimsuits must stay up on the shoulders and their bottoms should stay on through different size surf. Neither should fade from the sun or pool chemicals.
Easily Identifiable
Clearly distinguishable and visible lifeguard uniforms are a must. Lifeguard uniform conformity, stops confusion and can help save lives. When agencies fail to require matching uniforms and let the lifeguard choose what to wear, then lifeguard visibility and identification becomes almost impossible especially when a high volume of people are present. Large facilities can have hundreds of patrons in the water at the same time. This means teams of lifeguards, working together must be able to spot their partners quickly in and out of the water. Lifeguard uniforms tie the agencies together and instill respect for the guards.
Colors
Lifeguard uniform colors in the past have consisted of mostly red or navy with white labeling. Today agencies stick with traditional colors and others pick out uniform colors that match the theme of their park or their particular branding.
Beaches and water parks that don’t have identical lifeguard uniforms have been sued when patrons were unable to find a guard when needed.
Lifeguard Equipment Requirements
Rescue Cans should be the best in the industry; beware of imitations! The Marine Rescue Patrol Can was developed by L.A. County Chief Lifeguard Bob Burnside over 30 years ago. Marine Rescue Patrol Cans are made with the thickest wall construction on the market and have a heavy nylon shoulder rescue strap attached to a nylon line.
The lifeguard rescue can or sometimes called rescue tube is the most used piece of rescue equipment in the world. It is used by lifeguards at most pools, waterparks, oceans, lakes and rivers. Well made rescue tubes are made from Ensolite foam with heavy vinyl covering. Rescue tubes made with tapered ends provide comfort and help to reduce drag. Rescue tubes can support both the victim and rescuers weight during the rescue. They are the preferred choice of the American Red Cross and are used by lifeguard training agencies around the world.
Lifeguard rescue fins help with long distance rescues or battling strong rip currents. Lifeguard rescue fins are designed to propel you through the water with minimal effort.
Lifeguard rescue fins like Da Fins are used for jetty rescues and rock hopping, due to their smaller size. All lifeguard fins must float so that they will wash into shore if lost in the water.
Lifeguard rescue fin the Duck feet fins are also highly acclaimed and are the #1 choice by Navy.
Lifeguard backboards are used by lifeguards to secure and transport physically injured victims. A popular choice by agencies is the Watermen Pediatric Spineboard. The polyethylene shell of this spineboard is heavy duty and x-ray translucent, so moving the injured victim from board to bed for x-rays is not necessary.
Sun Protection
Though not required lifeguards should use sun protection. Solrx a great sunscreen that stays on all day and will not run into your eyes.
Lifeguard rashguards provide an extra layer of SPF 50 protection from the sun and also provides warmth.
Skin cancer of the ears is becoming a growing dilemma. Broad brimmed hats like the La Palapa Hat a straw hat, works great and was originated in the 1960’s by California beach lifeguards. The wide rim covers and protects the ears.
Tonga hats are also a wide brimmed hat that is the most popular hat used by lifeguard agencies in California.
Ever hear the warning ‘don’t swim or surf after it’s rained’?
Runoff Rain Water
This is because of the surface runoff in rainwater, created by urbanization. This runoff is a major source of flooding and water pollution in urban communities worldwide. Surface street run off waters are dumping serious amounts of bacteria, human and animal waste overflow and hundreds of pounds of plastic waste into the surf. Sewage pipes are allowed to overflow and discharge into rivers and the sea during storms. Yet, many people are torn between big waves, and polluted waters.
Many public officials try and make light of this issue. Recently a spokesperson for Los Angeles County stated that the debris we see after a storm does not pose a threat to the public. These same people are convinced that during these storms, dangerous sharks are sucked out of the water and tossed about, thus driving them away from the shores.
After it rains everyone should avoid entering any water especially near stream mouths, river mouths and channels. The fast-moving water not only contains overflowing sewer water but becomes inundated with a lot of abundant amounts of trash washing off the streets, including dead animals, stream fish weakened by exposure to salt water, and rubbish. After the rain these flooded murky waters attract small fish that come to feed. These small bait fish will eventually attract hungry sharks browsing to feed, that have come back towards the shallow waters. And when that happens, the low visibility, due to murky water make it more difficult for sharks to determine whether your fish or human and is known to increase the risk of people getting bitten by sharks.
Health Hazards
Ocean water contaminated with sewage, storm run-off and oil carry bacteria, parasites, and viruses, which can cause a variety of diseases. The murky waters contain high levels of bacteria that could make swimmers sick. Research is being conducted throughout the world on the dangers of rain water runoffs and the dangers of surfing or swimming during or after a rain.
Studies have found that when surfers and swimmers come in contact with sewage-polluted water they contract a wide variety of illnesses. Gastroenteritis or GI, is spread by the ingestion of bacteria pathogens in fecal-contaminated water. Symptoms are cramps vomiting, diarrhea, stomach ache, nausea, headache, and fever. Other disorders causes by the polluted water include hepatitis, respiratory illness, and ear, nose, and throat problems, giardiasis, amoebic dysentery, skin rashes, and pink eye, and ear infections.
Swallowing or inhaling the polluted water through your nose or mouth or being in the water with an open sore after a rain will almost definitely cause an infection. Streptococcus bacteria also known as Strep can cause serious infections and even kill you.
As well oil carries with it bacteria, parasites, and viruses, which can cause a variety of diseases. This “toxic cocktail” of pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals and other pollutants can definitely affect your body as well.
That said, it is best to avoid polluted waters for 12 to 72 hours following heavy storms. After 3 days water levels typically return to what’s considered safe.
If you are still willing to sacrifice your health after reading this, consider moving away from runoff areas, and stay out of murky or discolored water. If you see lots of leaves and plastic bottles floating around, then get out of the water. Storm water can look clean and still have a very high concentration of disease carrying pathogens and bacteria.
It is up to you to keep yourself and family safe. Remember you will not normally see signs posted, warning the public of dangerous water. In Orange County the Department of Health has been quoted as saying, “We just assume all surfers know that the water is polluted after it rains.
Whether you are waiting for a rescue, your competition to begin, or you have just completed your event, there are a variety of hoodies, windbreakers and sweatpants to keep you warm and help get rid of the after chill. Here are some of our favorites.
Humboldt Hoodie
Say you are lobster diving from your kayak, and the water temperature drops, and your body is racked with chills, so it’s time to return to shore. You strip off your damp or wet clothes and want to put on something super soft and warm, we suggest reaching for a Humboldt Hoodie. Humboldt Hoodies are much thicker than your average weight cotton hoodies. The Humboldt hoodie is like wrapping yourself in a fleece blanket. It’s made to fit comfortable, so you can easily layer up. It has a zipper instead of being a pullover keeping your wet from soaking the fleece. It is electronic reach with headphone eyelet and an inside media pocket, it even has thumbholes in the cuffs.
K-38 Jacket
How about if the wind is blowing off the mid-February ocean water, and it’s raining lightly while you are warming up for that long open water swim. Your sweatshirt has gotten heavy and saturated with rain. Your phone no longer works because it too is soaked. This would have been the ideal opportunity for a K-38 Jacket instead of your cotton sweatshirt. The K-38 Jacket is made with 100% waterproof nylon and water resistant seams. The front snaps are great for that quick release right before your race starts keeping your muscles warm until the last minute, before you enter the icy water. And if you sweat a lot, this jacket has underarm grommets for ventilation, which allow you to set the temperature you desire inside your jacket.
Watermen Shepra Hoodie
Picture, you just got out of the frigid water after windsurfing at the Columbia Gouge in Oregon. You’ve been pounded by the chilly east wind for hours, your cold, your muscles are sore. This is the perfect time for a Watermen Shepra Hoodie to be waiting for you on the beach. The Sherpa Hoodie is a super thick soft sheep like fleece lined jacket. The Sherpa Hoodie even has fleece lined pockets for those cold cramping hands to thaw quickly.
Baja Hoodie
The whale sharks are in Baja this time of the year. The water is still warm and swimming without a wetsuit is a dream. As the sun sets and the whale shark scouting is finished for the night. In typical Baha fashion the wind kicks up lowering the temperature around you and you need to put on a light jacket. The Baja Hoodie is a mid-weight cotton jacket that is perfect for the pre-winter weather.
Watermen Pant
When your body is wet, your clothes will stick to you, making it difficult to pull on a pair of pants. The Watermen pant is different, there is no pant like it. It’s like a sweatpants, but not exactly. These pants are built to last and are made in the USA from 100% heavy-duty preshrunk cotton. They are chosen by watermen and lifeguards across the globe for their exceptional comfort, fit, and extra deep pockets and worn on dawn patrol, workouts, training, or whatever. The Waterman Pant has an elastic waist and draw cord for quick and easy removal. Choose from two types of cuff: with elastic for a more casual look, or without elastic for a more dress look. Don’t leave home without them!
We know the importance of being prepared mentally and physically, so we design equipment and clothes that withstand the elements. The wrong gear can mean injures or even death, so it is best to be prepared.
For those in cooler climates the summer is their chance to go outside without having to bundle up in a few layers. Even so, we meet people from time to time (from both cold and warm climates) that seclude themselves indoors for a majority of their free time. We get it.. After a long week of work dealing with tourists or deadlines, or other stresses and possibly a lack of sleep (especially in the recent heat!) the easy thing to do is to melt into the count to indefinitely watch Netflix. But if you can resist that temptation and find some rejuvenation outdoors, you’ll be better off for it!
Being outside is important to mental and physical health because natural light reduces stress and can actually boost your mood nearly immediately; and in addition to more exercise there are physical benefits from the sun including reduced inflammation, improved immune system and easier to sleep. It has even been said that going outdoors will make you more creative as well as a sharper thinker.
The benefits of being outside are vast, so we delve into some of the bigger ones below as well as some extra ideas and tips.
Mental Benefits and Physical Benefits
Beyond exercise
The physical benefits besides getting more exercise are much more prevalent than someone might think. Getting the right amount of vitamin D from the sun can be tough when working all day inside an office, so literally going on a walk during lunch and break times will physically benefit you.
Being outside can also reduce inflammation in many people. A study was conducted that those living around forests and other natural areas suffered much less inflammation than their city dwelling counterparts. The University of Wisconsin found that that living in areas with less than a 10 percent tree cover were found to have more instances of depression and anxiety than those who lived with more trees around. The interesting part of this is that race, income, or education played no part in this at all as the results were consistent throughout all factors.
How does being outside reduce stress?
Natural light reduces stress and boosts your mood. Restoring mental energy by doing something active simply like taking a long walk can rejuvenate a person by when they return to the office after lunch. Additionally, exercises for breathing deeply and centering your mind can help produce endorphins which have a myriad of health benefits.
Of course, physical activity also does this and has been proven to increase productivity and moods. Triggering the release of these endorphins can be done daily and it can certainly help your career and your daily life. It will help stimulate effective work relationships and even has been shown to help increase productive collaboration in the office.
Some Fun Ideas and Safety Tips
One of the most relaxing things that can be done outside is going to the beach. If you’re not near the ocean like us, many lakes, rivers and lagoons have beaches, too!! A beach is always full of different activities to suit your personal liking, and even something as simple as walking along the shore can be the workout you need for the day. Paddle boarding, body surfing and swimming are all great ways to have a blast outside while also exercising. Get some fins for body surfing the waves or swimming to a buoy with more leg power.
As the season winds down and shifts to fall, you should consider one of our high quality rashguards as they help keep in body heat as well as protect skin from getting irritated. Not to mention, these rash guards can also help with the few bumps and bruises along the way that come with body surfing.
Taking a short walk and just sitting in nature is a great way to unwind from a stressful day or week. Hydration also affects your mood so don’t forget to bring a water bottle. And we always advise wearing one of our snapback hats and some shades to shield your eyes and stay comfortable.
Keep Switching It Up
The spice of life truly is variety and even some of your favorite activities can start to seem mundane if done the same way for a while. The easiest way to keep yourself prepared for a random outing and adventure is to keep at least some basic athletic, water sports apparel and gear in your vehicle. This could include quick-drying hiking gear of some kind or even some stylish and comfortable retro shorts and sandals, and perhaps a volleyball, frisbee or some other kind of sports gear.
There are groups of people online who want to stay active and try new things, and encourage others to do the same. Join one of these groups to try something that you would have never before thought of attempting.
Start making going outside a part of your daily or weekly life and it will easily become a habit in just a matter of weeks. Be proactive about trying to live a more active lifestyle! That’s the start of something amazing for both your body and mind.
The common surfer in the weight room at the gym did not used to be commonplace. A surfer has been more of a counterculture icon in many places throughout the country. There are more and more surfers hitting the weights as it can actually help them master control on the waves that before they could not achieve. Lifting weights has also become easier than ever as there are plenty of resources to help a beginner learn. With YouTube a beginner has the ability to see proper form and with a smartphone video one can see where they need to make modifications. Also, it’s worth mentioning some men’s boardshorts and women’s swim shorts (like what we carry) are made with more durable, comfortable and quick-drying materials so they can be worn from the gym to the beach — no change of clothes needed.
Does surfing build muscle?
Yes of course, surfing builds muscle like any other physical activity and likewise you build strength in the areas and muscle groups being used. Just like amateur and professional athletes alike all cross-train in various ways, weightlifting is a great way to build strength in the specific muscles in new ways as well as in complimentary muscle groups to make you an overall stronger athlete.
The following are ways that weightlifting can help you master the waves like you dream.
Strength and Endurance
Just the endurance it takes to paddle out and into a great wave can leave many surfers drained. Weightlifting is the perfect way to make the paddle out a breeze. Fitness programs like Crossfit can be incredible for surfers as it hits every area of the body instead of isolating one muscle group at a time. Anyone that can do regular intense Crossfit or other group fitness workouts will have no problem with fatigue on bigger swells.
Olympic Lifting Mimics Standing on a Board
Olympic lifting like cleans, jerks, and snatches are incredible for surfing. These incorporate trying to get your body and feet under the weight then standing completely up. If this sounds incredibly similar to surfing that is because many of the same fundamentals are almost identical. Exercises like the split jerk which makes one foot go forward and one back then standing up with the weight above the head can help one stand up with more ease while taking off on a steep face. One quick fluid motion is needed for both activities. Try out a few Olympic lifts to help with your explosiveness and the speed of your feet.
Core Strength Needs Constant Work
Working on the core is something that most people realize they have to do but neglect it daily. The core can be exercised at the gym using a physio ball as well as some weights. Dumbbell flies and presses on this ball will help strengthen your core as well as all the connective tissue you might not have realized existed. Try these exercises in short intervals and at low rates to start, in tandem with the well-known plank. Nothing can ruin cross training for surfing quite like an injury so keep safety in mind when trying new exercises.
Wearing The Same Shorts To Do Both
Working out in your men’s or women’s boardshorts as an alternative to gym shorts can be more comfortable, especially when doing surf specific exercises. Gents, our Waterman compression shorts will not limit your movement which is imperative in weightlifting (remember, they’re designed to keep everything together even on the most embarrassing trip over the falls)! Another bonus to these men’s compression shorts is the quick-drying characteristics protect you from uncomfortable rashes. And don’t worry about those funky workout odors with these compression shorts either as we designed them to prevent that even after a weekend lost in the trunk, wet. There are various patterns and color options, so you’ll find some sure to fit your personal style.
Weightlifting for surfers will always be beneficial as both sports have plenty in common, more than many might see. Set yourself up for success on the water by putting yourself into the best physical shape that you can then see what you can do!
Lifeguard Uniform Requirements
Lifeguard Uniform Requirements
warning ‘don’t swim or surf after it’s rained’?
Hoodies, Jackets and Sweatpants
For those in cooler climates the summer is their chance to go outside without having to bundle up in a few layers. Even so, we meet people from time to time (from both cold and warm climates) that seclude themselves indoors for a majority of their free time. We get it.. After a long week of work dealing with tourists or deadlines, or other stresses and possibly a lack of sleep (especially in the recent heat!) the easy thing to do is to melt into the count to indefinitely watch Netflix. But if you can resist that temptation and find some rejuvenation outdoors, you’ll be better off for it!
The common surfer in the weight room at the gym did not used to be commonplace. A surfer has been more of a counterculture icon in many places throughout the country. There are more and more surfers hitting the weights as it can actually help them master control on the waves that before they could not achieve. Lifting weights has also become easier than ever as there are plenty of resources to help a beginner learn. With YouTube a beginner has the ability to see proper form and with a smartphone video one can see where they need to make modifications. Also, it’s worth mentioning some 