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It is imperative an ocean lifeguard be physically fit. The Hampton Beach Patrol Surf Rescue
(HBPSR) views this to be paramount. As a result, daily training is required and begins at 09:00 sharp. Training is done at
the direction of a captain, an appointee of a captain, or an appointee of the chief. Training sessions are
generally 35-45 minutes and consist of swimming, running, and calisthenics at times. Time is also spent reviewing
CPR and related skills. It is also common for lifeguards to workout during their lunch breaks to add to their edge.
The focus is to sharpen both endurance and speed. This is accomplished by various types
of daily training sessions. Day to day, the different workouts done focus on either long distance to
build endurance, sprints of some sort at shorter distances to build speed, or a combination of the two.
This results in a properly conditioned lifeguard able to perform at an optimum level.
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| Swim portion of a Run Swim Run training session, July 2005. |
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A lifeguard's primary weapon in the battle to save a victim is his physical
condition; also significant is the equipment he implements. The Rescue Can, or Torp is our principal apparatus
for rescues. Hampton lifeguards are trained in a variety of techniques to employ this tool. The Rescue Can is
highly effective in the hands of a properly conditioned and trained individual.
Hampton lifeguards are trained not only to be proactive, to prevent injury,
but also to react without hesitation regardless of surf conditions. That is the job. The HBPSR teaches and reinforces two
core concepts within all its training: never quit and push onward. These ideologies carry over to rescue situations.
As a result, it does not matter what the conditions are; we have, and will continue to do, what it takes,
to get the job done.
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