In what’s being described as “a wonderful kickoff to summer,” Pacific Beach civic leaders joined in a season-opening breakfast saluting City lifeguards on June 15 at Mission Bay Yacht Club.

Pacific Beach Town Council participated in the event represented by president Charlie Nieto, and board members Cathie Jolley, Marcella Bothwell, and Denise Friedman. The PBTC has supported this season-opening breakfast since the Mission Bay Yacht Club began hosting it eight years ago.

“Having Mayor Gloria join in this year was a treat,” said Friedman. “And having  Councilmember Joe LaCava with us again, this time as PB’s council member, gave us all a chance to thank him for his leadership and support.

“PB Honorary Mayor Brian Curry was also wowed by this special morning. Lifeguard Chief Lt. James Gartland and his team have done an amazing job building the San Diego Lifeguards into an award-winning group of young women and men. We love and appreciate you.”

Gartland said lifeguards were truly appreciative of the public’s welcoming response.“An operational meeting with the entire lifeguard team before the summer starts, it is a great way to prepare for a successful season of lifesaving,” he said. “We also see it as a great team-building opportunity.”

Added Gartland: “This type of meeting is not possible without the support of the Mission Bay Yacht Club, the Pacific Beach Town Council, and the San Diego Lifesaving Association. It is humbling to have all these groups work together in support of our lifeguards. And to make this morning even more special, we had top City leadership attend to show their support and provide words of encouragement for this team of lifesavers.”

The United States Lifesaving Association was born in 1964 in Southern California and included members of the San Diego Lifeguard Service. These members soon thereafter created the local SDLA chapter, organizing and operating as a non-profit.

Friedman pointed out that the annual summer lifeguard kick-off breakfast is also important in that it is a rare opportunity for all 300 or so of these first responders to meet up at one time in one place, thanks to Mission Bay Yacht Club hosting them. “At first it was just every four years,” she said. “But now we do it every year.”

Friedman also praised PB’s participation noting, “No other community in San Diego does as much for first responders. Our town council is the most involved, and the oldest in the City.”

LIFEGUARDS IN SAN DIEGO
Ocean lifeguard services in San Diego began in 1918, prompted by the drowning of 13 people on a single day at Ocean Beach. Three lifeguards were initially appointed and attached to the police department, assigned to guard the area around popular Wonderland Park. By 1935, the San Diego Lifeguard Service included six full-time lifeguards and 13 seasonal lifeguards

During the 1940s, a cliff rescue apparatus was developed and assigned to the Ocean Beach Fire Station. This apparatus was basically a crane attached to a rescue vehicle, with a powered winch that allowed rescuers to be quickly lowered to victims and victims to be raised to safety.

In the 1950s, diving began to be a popular sport, prompting the start of the San Diego Lifeguard Service Dive Rescue Team. In the 1960s, San Diego lifeguards were provided specialized training in first aid and CPR. An increasing number acquired scuba training. As new beaches were created by importing sand to the shoreline of Mission Bay, lifeguards were assigned to safeguard swimmers there.

In the 1970s, women began to be hired as lifeguards, equipment improved, and rescue boats were acquired. Toward the end of the decade, serious inland flooding during winter months resulted in the deaths of persons attempting to cross rain-swollen rivers, and the San Diego Lifeguard River Rescue Team was begun.

During the 1980s, the 9-1-1 system was implemented in the San Diego area. During the 1990s, several improvements were made to rescue equipment. In particular, a second /fire/rescue vessel was acquired and the cliff rescue vehicle was replaced with a four-wheel-drive vehicle offering river rescue, scuba, and cliff rescue response capabilities.