S.D. Lifeguard River Team Will Train L.A. Rescuers

A team of San Diego lifeguards has been contracted by Los Angeles County to conduct river-rescue training in response to emergencies that occurred during winter floods this year.

Four members of the San Diego Lifeguard River Rescue Team will train about 40 Los Angeles safety personnel, including lifeguards and sheriff’s deputies, San Diego Lifeguard Chief Chris Brewster said.

The training will consist of drills on the San Gabriel River in Azusa Canyon, near the forest service information center on California 39.

Swift-water rescue differs from ocean rescue because of the constant rushing of river currents, Brewster said. Ocean wave action comes in pulses, allowing time during lulls for rescue efforts, Brewster said. The San Diego River Rescue Team, one of few in the nation, was formed 12 years ago, Brewster said.

“The San Diego team was chosen because it handles more calls for river emergency service than any other agency in California,” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Jim Jennings said. “They’re good at what they do because they do it a lot.”

Los Angeles County is planning to raise the lifeguard department’s general expertise in swift-water rescue, Brewster said. The Sheriff’s Department will form a river rescue team out of the department’s emergency services detail.

“It’s really quite a compliment they came to us for the training,” Brewster said.

Los Angeles County will reimburse the city of San Diego for the salaries of the lifeguards, all of whom are instructor-rated, Brewster said.

Training is scheduled to begin Tuesday and last five days, Brewster said.