1906

The City of Long Beach hired its first lifeguard in 1906. Lifeguards were nicknamed "Beach Tag Men" for their "hit-and-save" rescue method. At that time, surf rescues generally involved a substantial grasp of the victim's head by a scalp hold. This technique was solely a matter of muscular prowess. As well, the dress of a lifeguard was much different then than it is today. Termed "suicide pajamas", lifeguards wore bulky, awkward bathing costumes that were long-sleeved and high-styled with pantaloons, bone stays and ribbons.

1909

A lifeguard corp of ten to twelve men was developed under the auspices of the Long Beach Police Department.

1911

Long Beach Lifeguards began using a solid wood surfboard as a piece of rescue equipment in 1911. The legendary Duke Kahanamoku left the single board at the bathhouse. Duke left the board as a gift, intended as a lasting sign of his friendship, during a surfing visit that year. Once manipulated into a lifesaving apparatus, the board symbolized the beginning of man's modern use of marine safety equipment in the rescue of distressed bathers.

1918

Roy "Dutch" Miller and his brother Vic Miller were accepted into the City's lifeguard service in 1918. The brothers grew up around the Long Beach lifeguards, learning at a young age the arts of body surfing and surfboard rescue. Dutch and Vic would eventually play major roles in directing the course of ocean lifeguarding throughout the next five decades.

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1922

"Dutch" Miller was appointed Lifeguard Captain in 1922. During this time, Dutch directed his forces under the auspices of the City's Recreation Department, then supervised by Squire DuRee, one of Long Beach's civic frontiersmen.

1923

Dutch and Vic Miller constructed nine portable lifeguard towers in 1923. These towers were another first of their kind for lifeguarding. Prior to the construction of these towers, a lifeguard simply sat on the beach in a chair with his umbrella.

1924

In 1924, the City campaigned into operation the first motor patrol boat ever used anywhere for ocean rescue. Skippered by the "Silver Fox", Vic Miller, the boat was given its initial inspection run by Governor Friend W. Richardson. Newspaper reporters wrote of the new rescue boat as "dashing through waves", while the Governor is said to have disembarked quite quickly, making the remark, " 'some boat!". Lifeguards found that they had to develop their mechanical skills, being that they would be responsible for maintenance and repairs.

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1930

The Long Beach Lifeguards are credited for multiple innovations during the early 1930's. One of these innovations was the more efficient torpedo can buoy. Fashioned out of tin, the first was made right here in Long Beach, at Willie's Tin Shop on Alamitos. Today's lifesaving can buoys, now brightly colored orange and made of lightweight plastic, remain an essential part of lifeguarding worldwide.

Another innovation now excepted as essential to lifeguard operations was the first beach-wide conversation system. This "wind-and-start" telephone system was donated by Long Beach Polytechnic High School.

Vic Miller and Lt. Tub Coleman began Lifesaving's first citizen education effort, the Long Beach Marine Water Safety Program, in the Long Beach schools. Later, it was headed by Paxton Klaus and Pat Flynn, followed by Bill Forrester and Jim Rae. The Water Safety Program continues to educate Long Beach's youth today. Also, the first junior lifeguard program was established, as well as an Annual Summer Festival for the "public showing off of lifeguard operations and physical prowess".

1932

During the depression, the public (unwillingly at leisure) crowded to the beaches in tremendous masses. Cumulative yearly totals through the thirties and forties ranged from 5-7 million. As an attempt to open the Civil Service position to more applicants, as well as a response to increased beach attendance, the lifeguard service placed adds throughout the depression years calling for "men of good physical and high moral standards" to take the lifeguard exam. This dramatic increase in the corps necessitated professional organization. The Professional Lifeguards of Southern California, forerunner of the NSLSA, convened their first convention on May 2, 1932 at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium.

Also introduced in 1932, the first two-way radio system used for mobile unity dispatch was plugged in at the communication desk in the Pine Avenue Pier lifeguard headquarters. Supplied with a receiver on Rescue Boat I and a new switchboard, which connected all the towers, the dispatcher could coordinate all rescue activities for the first time. Unfortunately, in 1934, the Pine Avenue Pier headquarters was completely destroyed during intense storm activity.

1934

After considering its effectiveness over the old solid board, Captain Miller initiated the use of a plywood paddleboard, constructed by Ted Sizemore, for rescue operation. Upon the plywood paddleboard's assimilation within the forces rescue methodology, Duke Kahanamoku's styled solid surfboard became modern lifesaving's first hall of fame showpiece.

1938

The new Long Beach Lifeguard Headquarters was constructed at the foot of Linden Avenue near the rainbow pier.

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1940

During the early 1940's, many Long Beach Lifeguards enlisted in the armed forces. Given their ocean rescue background, a number of these volunteers were sworn in as members of the Coast Guard. The Long Beach Lifeguard Service found its numbers and energies generally directed toward the fate of the nation. In 1940, the force was designated as an autonomous division of the city.

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1954

In 1954, after voters approved the use of tidelands funds, the City's marina development began providing new areas of public service for the Long Beach Lifeguards. The development of Alamitos Bay, the Long Beach Marina and the Colorado Lagoon created additional miles of still water shoreline and increased boat traffic, thus promoting the acquisition of an additional boat and an updated jeep. Later, in 1956, the Long Beach Lifeguard service was incorporated into the Marine Department. During this same time, the concept of hourly staffing became part of the Lifeguard's daily operation as the jump in number of rookies matched the city's growing population.

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1965

Long Beach Lifeguard Headquarters building was moved to its present location at the foot of Junipero Avenue, also known as Cherry Beach.

1966

The Long Beach Lifeguard corps passed the one hundred mark in manpower in its peak seasonal strength. Equipped with the most advanced lifesaving techniques and intensely trained in rescue operations, the force presented itself in review as Captain Dutch Miller retired in the early summer that same year.

1968

Two years after his brother Dutch retired from the force, Vic Miller ended his career in public safety. Upon Vic's retirement, John Olszewski was appointed Chief of the Long Beach Lifeguards, a position he maintained until 1974. 1968 also saw the introduction of the Long Beach Lifeguard Search & Rescue SCUBA Team.

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1974

The Long Beach Lifeguards were reconstructed into the Marine Safety Operations Division under the Marine Department. After John Olszewski retired, Richard L. Miller, son of Vic Miller, was appointed chief of the Marine Safety Operations Division. Also in 1974, all permanent Long Beach Lifeguards became certified EMT's under the pioneer program at St. Mary Medical Center.

1978

After Proposition 13, Long Beach Lifeguards became part of the Tidelands Agency.

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1981

The Long Beach Lifeguard Headquarters, at the foot of Junipero Avenue, is designated an historical landmark by the Cultural Heritage Commission.

1983

Construction of the Downtown and Shoreline Marinas was completed in 1983. With the addition of over 1800 boat slips, as well as restaurants and shops, the lifeguard rescue boats began providing 24-hour rescue service to the area.

1988

The first local lifeguard museum was established at Marine Stadium. The Long Beach Lifeguard Museum contains memorabilia, photos and equipment from the past and present.

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1994

Long Beach Lifeguards merged with the Long Beach Fire Department in 1994. The Lifeguards are now known as the Marine Safety Division under the Operations Bureau. The merging of the Fire Department and Lifeguards has provided the public with the highest quality of marine safety services.

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PRESENTLY

Staff/Training

The Marine Safety Division consists of 27 full time employees, divided among boat and beach operations, with 140 seasonal personnel. All permanent Marine Safety Personnel receive the following training:

· Emergency Medical Technician - Long Beach Fire Department

· Shipboard Firefighting - United States Navy

· Small Boat Firefighting - Department of Boating and Waterways

· Basic Rescue Boat Operations - DBAW

· Boating Law Enforcement - DBAW

· Hazardous Materials - Long Beach Fire Department

· Incident Command System - Long Beach Fire Department

· Swiftwater Rescue Technician - Rescue 3 (private) Company

· Advanced Diver - Scripps Institute of Oceanography/LB Lifeguard Dive Team

· Penal Code 832 - Laws of arrest and firearms

·Continuing education medical aid training - LBFD EMS Ed ucators

Rescue Boat Operations

The Marine Safety Division provides two 24-hour rescue boats. Rescue Boat 1, in Alamitos Bay, is the only fully integrated Fire/Lifeguard rescue boat in the United States. Rescue Boat 1 is staffed with a Fire Captain/Paramedic and a Marine Safety Sergeant Rescue Boat Operator. Rescue Boat 2, in the Downtown Marina, is staffed with a Marine Safety Sergeant Rescue Boat Operator and a Marine Safety Officer. Additionally, Rescue Boat 3 is a daylight rescue boat assigned to the Marine Stadium area. Year round, our rescue boats respond to all service calls, emergency and non-emergency, as well as all harbor patrol and law enforcement duties.

Beach Operations

Beach Operations is responsible for all day operations. A minimum of two lifeguard response vehicles are on duty to cover all daytime needs. During our busiest season, June to September, 140 seasonal lifeguards are employed to assist with the increased need for service.

Dive Team

First established in 1968, the Long Beach Lifeguard Search & Rescue Dive Team has become an industry leader. The Dive Team has three platoons, each comprised of a dive master and four divers. The Team is responsible for all underwater search and rescue, body recovery operations, evidence collection, salvage and all other related activities. Recognized as a leader in public safety diving, the Long Beach Fire Department/Lifeguard Dive Team has trained many other Lifeguard, Fire and Police dive teams.

Swiftwater Rescue Team

The Long Beach Fire Department/Lifeguards have the country's first fully integrated Fire/Lifeguard Swiftwater Rescue Team. The team consists of 12 lifeguards and 8 firefighters and responds to all emergency calls that involve moving water or flooding. All team members are trained to Swiftwater Rescue levels 1 and 2. Additional specialized training includes Swiftwater Rescue Instructor, Animal Rescue, High Angle Rescue, Rope Systems and Inflatable Rescue Boat Handling.

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