RECOGNIZING OPEN WATER LIFEGUARDS AS FIRST RESPONDERS IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THEIR ESSENTIAL ROLE IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

SCR56

THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

56

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

recognizing open water lifeguards as first responders in
acknowledgement of their essential role in emergency response, public safety,
and community wellbeing throughout the State
.

����
WHEREAS, open
water lifeguards perform an essential public safety function by protecting the
lives of countless residents and visitors from death or serious injury
throughout the State; and

����
WHEREAS, in
Kauai and Maui counties, lifeguards are professionally designated as ocean
safety officers, while lifeguards in the City and County of Honolulu and Hawaii
County are designated as water safety officers, reflecting their specialized
training, responsibilities, and scope of duty; and

����
WHEREAS, in
the performance of their duties, open water lifeguards routinely place
themselves at significant risk to their own lives and physical safety in
dynamic and hazardous ocean and shoreline environments; and

����
WHEREAS, open
water lifeguards are frequently among the first personnel to arrive at
emergency scenes and operate alongside police officers and firefighters to
protect life, secure scenes, and preserve public safety until additional
responders arrive; and

����
WHEREAS, the
duties of open water lifeguards extend beyond ocean rescues and include
responding to emergencies on land, such as cardiac arrest, traumatic injuries,
and motor vehicle collisions occurring on or near beaches, parks, and public
roadways; and

����
WHEREAS, many
open water lifeguards are cross-trained in emergency medical response, marine
fire safety, law enforcement support, and water rescue craft operations; and

����
WHEREAS, open
water lifeguards undergo rigorous and continuous training, including but not
limited to high-performance cardiopulmonary resuscitation, automated external
defibrillator use, advanced rescue techniques, and emergency scene management;
and

����
WHEREAS, open
water lifeguards respond to emergencies by attending to, treating, assisting,
and transporting victims, which collectively constitute the four defined duties
of an emergency response employee; and

����
WHEREAS, open
water lifeguards not only protect human life, but also safeguard property,
preserve evidence, and protect the environment, which together represent the
four core tenets commonly used to define a first responder; and

����
WHEREAS, the
term "first responder" is commonly defined as an individual with
specialized training who is among the first to arrive and provide assistance at
the scene of an emergency; and

����
WHEREAS, open
water lifeguards differ fundamentally from pool lifeguards due to the
unpredictable and hazardous environment in which they operate and the wide
range of emergency situations and locations to which they respond; and

����
WHEREAS, many
other countries formally recognize lifeguards as emergency responders and grant
them access to programs, protections, and resources afforded to first
responders; now, therefore,

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii,
Regular Session of 2026, the House of Representatives concurring, that this
body recognizes open water lifeguards, including ocean safety officers and
water safety officers, as first responders in acknowledgement of their
essential role in emergency response, public safety, and community wellbeing
throughout the State; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that all relevant state and county agencies, departments, and
governing bodies are urged to adopt this recognition and ensure that open water
lifeguards are afforded the rights, resources, training support, and
professional respect accorded to first responders; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that public safety agencies are encouraged to continue collaboration
amongst themselves to strengthen emergency response capabilities and enhance
safety across the State's ocean, shoreline, and public environments; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the
Governor, and mayor of each county.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
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Open
Water Lifeguards; First Responders; Recognition