8/8/2019 Open Water Safety Leaders

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  Open Water Source   www.openwatersource.com 

 © 2008 by Steven Munatones

Open Water Safety Leaders

 After a review of the open water swimming safety standards used around the world, Open Water Source believes the Australians set the standards. Not only are the Australian writtensafety standards comprehensive in terms of scope and details, but their practical execution of 

safety standards along its beaches and during ocean swims is second to none.

One example of the Australian sense of urgency can be seen here at the Ocean ShoresPolice Department  website.

Other examples include the ocean swims in Bondi Beach and the Manly Life Saving Club (old photo shown on left) where the safety personnel has officially saved over 10,000 lives. Noindividual has drowned at Manly Beach  while its Club members have been on duty.Currently, the Manly lifeguards save about 200 lives per year.

Likewise, in the US, the capabilities and fast action of the Honolulu lifeguards (OceanSafety and Lifeguard Services Division) were evident during the 2003  WaikikiRoughwater Swim (upper photo shows start of annual event). During the 2003 event,hundreds of swimmers were rescued when powerful currents were too much for most of the

swimmers. Of the 1,055 swimmers who started, only 356 finished including, remarkably, 71- year-old Jim Gaughran who finished in 1:51:07 and 72-year-old Graham Johnston whofinished in 2:07:30.

 All the other swimmers either had to turn back to the start, were helped back to shore by fellow swimmers or were rescued by the US Coast Guard, Honolulu lifeguards or HonoluluFire Department personnel that collectively reported saving at least 267 swimmers.

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