UNITED STATES LIFESAVING ASSOCIATION

LIFE SAVING EVENTS: THE UNITED STATES LIFESAVING ASSOCIATION CONDUCTS A NATIONAL LIFESAVING COMPETITION ANNUALLY. THE 2025 COMPETITION WAS HELD IN HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA. COMPETITION ENCOURAGES LIFEGUARDS TO ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE LEVELS OF FITNESS NEEDED IN THEIR LIFESAVING WORK, TO DEMONSTRATE THE SKILLS NEEDED IN LIFESAVING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, TO ENCOURAGE EXCHANGES OF INFORMATION AMONG LIFEGUARD AGENCIES, AND TO RAISE FUNDS NEEDED TO FUND USLA PROGRAMS. FOR A JOB WHERE SECONDS COUNT, LIFESAVING COMPETITION RAISES SKILLS. THE COMPETITION ALSO INSTILLS PRIDE IN THE LIFEGUARDS, PROMOTES THEIR PROFESSION THROUGH ACTIONS WHICH SERVE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT LIFEGUARDS EVERYWHERE ARE DESERVING OF THE TRUST PLACED IN THEM BY THE PUBLIC THEY PROTECT.

PUBLIC EDUCATION: THE USLA CREATES AND SUPPORTS PROGRAMS AIMED AT WATER SAFETY AND DROWNING PREVENTION. DROWNING IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF UNINTENTIONAL INJURY-RELATED DEATH IN CHILDREN ACCORDING TO THE CDC. WITH THIS IN MIND, USLA CREATES AND COLLABORATES ON CREATION, OF A RANGE OF RESOURCES TO TEACH CHILDREN HOW TO BE SAFE IN AND AROUND WATER. THIS INCLUDES TOPICS AND ACTIVITIES RELATING ON HOW TO RECOGNIZE A RIP CURRENT AND THE DANGERS OF RIP CURRENTS, AND TO ALWAYS SWIM NEAR A LIFEGUARD. RESOURCES INCLUDE: VIDEOS, FACT SHEETS, COLORING BOOKS, BOOKMARKS, POSTERS AND TEACHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. EACH YEAR AS SUMMER BEGINS, THE UNITED STATES LIFESAVING ASSOCIATION SPONSORS NATIONAL BEACH SAFETY WEEK IN AN EFFORT TO REMIND BEACHGOERS TO USE CAUTION IN THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT. COINCIDING WITH NATIONAL BEACH SAFETY WEEK IS RIP CURRENT AWARENESS WEEK. RIP CURRENTS ACCOUNT FOR OVER 80% OF RESCUES PREFORMED BY SURF BEACH LIFEGUARDS. THESE EVENTS ARE HELD TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT BEACH SAFETY AND RIP CURRENTS AND HOW TO BREAK THE GRIP OF THE RIP. AS IT STATES IN OUR MISSION, WE ARE WORKING TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF DEATH AND INJURY IN THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION.