City and County of Honolulu News Releases

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CITY'S OCEAN SAFETY DIVISION RECEIVES NATIONAL LIFEGUARD AGENCY CERTIFICATION (Wed., Dec. 1, 2010)—The Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division of the City & County of Honolulu's Emergency Services Department has successfully met the requirements of the United States Lifesaving Association's Lifeguard Agency Certification program and has been recertified for three years until November 2013. In a letter received last week from the USLA National Certification Committee Chair Tony Pryor, the division was congratulated for being approved by the Board of Directors for meeting the recommended standards for lifeguard agencies across the country. The United States Lifesaving Association is the national organization for open water lifeguard and rescue agencies whose mission is to reduce the number of deaths and injuries in the aquatic environment through public education, training programs, and national lifeguard standards. "Yours is one of the many respected lifeguard agencies in America which have demonstrated adherence to USLA guidelines," continued Pryor.  A listing of these agencies can be found at: www.usla.org "We are very pleased to receive the USLA recertification," said Ocean Safety Division Administrator Ralph S. Goto, "we consider the City and County of Honolulu's lifeguard service one of the best in the country.  Our lifeguards are recognized around the world as leaders in matters dealing with big surf and the use of personal water craft in rescue situations," Goto said.  "Meeting the requirements of the USLA Agency Certification Program is another way of maintaining the highest professional standards that our island community has come to expect." The Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division employs 220 Water Safety Officers and provides lifeguard services for the198 miles of Oahu's coastline 365 days a year. For further information:  Ralph S. Goto 922-3888, ext 24 rgoto@honolulu.gov