In the Swim of Things

Don’t be fooled by the red shorts, bronze tan and flip-flops. Tim Arnold is a serious guy with a life-or-death job. He’s the training captain for the lifeguard division of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. It’s up to Arnold to turn the “Baywatch” wannabes into bona fide rescue heroes. Today--at 40 and with the shoulders of an Olympic swimmer--he’s in better shape than most of the twentysomethings who show up each September for the 1,000-meter ocean-swim tryout.

Q What kind of training do you give lifeguard candidates?

A We do a lot of CPR and basic first aid. And we teach them how to spot rescues and hazardous ocean conditions. They practice running into the surf with their rescue cans--their red floating buoys--and bringing victims back. The instructors will act like victims.

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Q What else do candidates endure?

A They jump off the Hermosa Pier. I always thought it was fun. Some of them have never done it before. They get a little nervous.

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Q Every year, a handful of people who turn out for the September swim need to be rescued. What goes wrong?

A I think they overestimate their abilities. Or they aren’t in good enough physical shape.

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Q You worked Venice Beach for 12 years. What’s the most harrowing rescue you made?

A Three girls were swimming one day when the current picked up. They started getting sucked around the jetty in front of our division headquarters at 23rd Avenue. I ran out to make a rescue. Two of the girls jumped on me and pushed me under. I started thinking, “Uh-oh, I’m out of breath already from sprinting out here.” Fortunately, the water was only 8 feet deep, so I went all the way to the bottom, pushed my legs up and was able to get hold of them. By that time, the guards from the other towers had come down to help me, and the other girl had climbed up safely on the rocks. That was the most scared I’ve ever been on a rescue.

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Q What’s the biggest surf you’ve had to go into to rescue someone?

A Probably 15 feet. You dive down to the bottom, grab the sand, let the wave go over you, then pop up and keep swimming. When you’re holding on to the bottom, you can feel that water pressure come down on your back. It’s so dark, you can’t see even if you open your eyes.

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Q Are sharks on your mind when you go out? A Never on a rescue. Maybe when you come back in. You’re like, hey, there was that sea lion that popped up by me, and sharks eat sea lions. Once in a while, when I’m out surfing, I might see a shadow and think, OK, what was that?

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Q What advice do you have for people who are afraid of sharks?

A Stay out of the water.

Q Do you ever wear long pants to work?

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A Pants? I can’t remember the last time I wore pants. I try to wear shorts every day. It keeps me young at heart.