The Lifeguard Project

Red Isn't Armor is an article by Podcast host Drasko Bogdanovic published in Wilderness Medicine Magazine regarding the misunderstood nature of lifeguarding, mental health, and drowning. You can find the article online to reference some of the photos included.

https://wms.org/magazine/magazine/1574/Red-Isn-t-Armor/default.aspx

Drasko Bogdanovic is a California State Parks Ocean Lifeguard, Flight Paramedic, and photographer with a focus in prehospital care, aquatic rescue, and drowning prevention. With extensive experience in lifeguarding, EMS, and education, he has trained lifeguards, EMTs, paramedics, and law enforcement officers across California and internationally. As founder of The Lifeguard Project, he uses storytelling through imagery and a podcast to connect field experience with public health education. His work explores the intersection of lifesaving, community engagement, and the often misunderstood nature of drowning.

Thanks as always for listening!

Welcome to this episode of the Lifeguard Project Podcast, where I interview Newport Beach, lifeguard John Carpenter. John started as a YAP or Youth Employment Program in 1969 and has served with the Newport Beach Lifeguard Service for 50 years, from 1970 to 2020. During his time, he had certain accolades like training instructor for the Rookie Training Academy Lifeguard of the Year in 1985.

Cadet program coordinator, all American swimmer at Costa Mesa High School in 1971, Orange Coast College National Champion in water polo in 1972, and has been a biology teacher for 40 years as well as a water polo and swim coach at Estancia High School. John and I get into some really interesting facts about the inception of the lifeguard service in Newport Beach when I watched him do his centennial presentation of the a hundred year anniversary of the Newport Beach.

Lifeguards, John and I go through the entire history as well as some of his own personal stories. I hope you enjoy this episode, and thanks as always for listening. 

00:00 Introduction to John Carpenter and His Lifeguard Career

01:02 John's Early Lifeguard Experiences and Inspirations

02:58 The Humbling First Tryout

04:37 Overcoming Challenges and Proving Himself

11:08 The Evolution of the YEP Program

14:11 History of Newport Beach Lifeguard Service

25:14 Early Lifeguard Training and Equipment Innovations

33:57 Mechanization and Modernization of Lifeguard Services

43:13 Essential Gear for Jetty Rescues

43:59 Navigating Dangerous Rock Areas

44:27 Challenges of Lifeguarding Near Rocks

46:11 Modern Lifeguard Training and Techniques

47:19 Historical Lifeguard Innovations

49:32 Helicopter Rescues and Training

57:30 Early Lifeguarding Days and Equipment

01:03:56 Surfboard Licenses and Blackball Flags

01:12:31 Project Wipe Out and Preventative Measures

01:22:30 A Close Call and a Successful Rescue

01:22:56 The Importance of Beach Education

01:23:51 A Frightening Encounter with Negligent Parents

01:25:55 The Dangers of Sand Entrapment

01:27:00 A Lifeguard's Lifelong Vigilance

01:34:00 Reflecting on a Lifeguard Career

01:38:53 The Legacy of Lifeguarding

01:51:33 Advice for New Guards

Link To John's Powerpoint:

https://1drv.ms/p/c/2e013de102312bc0/ETs8_kjKnaZIvNHhGHmFv2IBpAcsXO7Z58nHd6be630Bqw?e=dsRP7b

Presented by The Ben Carlson Foundation:

https://www.bencarlsonfoundation.org/

https://www.instagram.com/bencarlson_foundation/

Subscribe to the Podcast Here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lifeguard-project/id1748861682

https://open.spotify.com/show/7EoZTDiET6jJ6XJ1g5X54t

https://www.instagram.com/thelifeguardproject/

https://thelifeguardproject.org/

Host, Drasko Bogdanovic:

https://www.bogdogphoto.com/

https://www.instagram.com/bogdogphoto/

Welcome to this episode of The Lifeguard Project Podcast, where today I interview Mike Martino. Mike is a California State Parks lifeguard who started as a seasonal and throughout his career, worked his way up all the way to the aquatic specialist or chief lifeguard of California State Parks. Not only is he a lifeguard for life, but he also has become quite a lifeguard historian and represent some of the early lifeguard pioneers who made their way up in the Sonoma coastline in the north of California.

The Sonoma coastline is what we focus on today and talk about some of those early challenges faced by the guards who worked up there. Mike shares with us some pretty impactful stories, both personal and professional, and we walk through what it really means to be a lifeguard. Thanks as always for listening.

00:00 Welcome to The Lifeguard Project Podcast

01:25 Mike Martino's Path to Lifeguarding

04:04 First Impressions of the Sonoma Coastline

06:05 Challenges and Responsibilities of Lifeguarding the Sonoma Coast

09:56 Community Perception and Lifeguard Interactions

15:23 The Reality of Lifeguard Work and Prevention

25:40 Abalone Diving and Lifeguard Experiences

31:00 Critical Rescues and Lifeguard Reflections

42:26 The Unseen Skills of Lifeguards

43:11 The Edge of Life and Death

45:27 Northern vs. Southern California Lifeguarding

48:06 The Challenges of Lifeguarding in Remote Areas

49:27 The Importance of Physical Activity in Managing Trauma

50:20 The Evolution of Lifeguard Support Programs

56:10 The Impact of Junior Lifeguard Programs

01:00:56 The Value of Lifeguard Services

01:06:37 The Lifeguard Community and Legacy

01:21:13 Final Thoughts

Links to Mike's Books on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Lifeguards-Diego-County-Images-America/dp/073855586X/ref=sr_1_4

https://www.amazon.com/Help-San-Diego-Lifeguards-Rescue/dp/1941384390/ref=sr_1_3

Presented by The Ben Carlson Foundation:

https://www.bencarlsonfoundation.org/

https://www.instagram.com/bencarlson_foundation/

Subscribe to the Podcast Here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lifeguard-project/id1748861682

https://open.spotify.com/show/7EoZTDiET6jJ6XJ1g5X54t

https://www.instagram.com/thelifeguardproject/

https://thelifeguardproject.org/

Host, Drasko Bogdanovic:

https://www.bogdogphoto.com/

https://www.instagram.com/bogdogphoto/

Welcome to this episode of the Lifeguard Project Podcast, where I interviewed David Rodriguez. David is one of the early founders of Watchtower, a digital command center for Lifeguards. Watchtower is a mobile platform that's tailored to every agency's needs as far as rescue's, data, end of your reports, and a lot of other techy kind of stuff.

We won't get into the details here. I'll let David do the explaining in this episode. However, if you haven't seen Watchtower heard about it, it's definitely coming down the line. Today we talk about David's career and how the idea got started, and we also talk about where the future of technology in lifeguarding could put us.

00:00 Welcome to the Show!

00:43 Meet David Rodriguez

02:11 The Birth of Watchtower

05:27 Challenges and Development of Watchtower

09:21 Expanding Watchtower's Capabilities

14:44 Standardizing Lifeguard Data Collection

28:35 Public Safety and Real-Time Data with Watchtower

39:56 Innovative Safety Messaging Ideas

42:23 Challenges and Solutions in Public Engagement

47:15 Data Collection and Privacy Concerns

50:27 Future of Lifeguard Technology

57:03 Integrating Historical Data

01:05:29 Final Thoughts

David's Links:

Website: https://www.yourwatchtower.com/

Public beach safety information: https://safebeachday.com/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/mwjm_CnHP4Q

Presented by The Ben Carlson Foundation:

https://www.bencarlsonfoundation.org/

https://www.instagram.com/bencarlson_foundation/

Subscribe to the Podcast Here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lifeguard-project/id1748861682

https://open.spotify.com/show/7EoZTDiET6jJ6XJ1g5X54t

https://www.instagram.com/thelifeguardproject/

https://thelifeguardproject.org/

Host, Drasko Bogdanovic:

https://www.bogdogphoto.com/

https://www.instagram.com/bogdogphoto/

Kalia Chalom is a 2nd year San Diego City Lifeguard. She submitted this essay to The Lifeguard Project and I encouraged her to record her essay "More Than a Summer Job" because it is so powerful. It encapsulates an inspirational take on the lifeguard culture and simplifies the lifeguard condition. Listen along as she reads her very own words which tread softly but strike deep chords about what it means to be a lifeguard. Goosebumps and tears incoming.

You can find the essay along with more of her writing here:

https://substack.com/@kaliasky

https://substack.com/inbox/post/166609955?utm_medium=ios

Have a submission you think can make the cut? Contact us to be featured on the podcast!

By lifeguards, for life.

Thanks for listening!

Spencer Pirdy grew up in Newport Beach, CA and was a Newport Beach lifeguard. Spencer met Ben Carlson working with the Newport Beach Lifeguards and shares how he became one of his early influences around lifeguarding, along with witnessing his older brother Travis Pirdy making rescues.

On top of being a professional surfer and just an all-around good guy, Spencer sits on the board of the Ben Carlson Foundation. Spencer organizes the Ben Carson memorial paddle, which is a 30 mile paddle him to raise funds for the Ben Carlson Foundation, which goes from Catalina island to Newport Beach. The paddle has been going strong for the last 10 years and last year, raised over a quarter of $1 million dollars.

Spencer has become integrated in communities like Puerto Escondido where he not only surfs huge waves, but leads the foundation in giving back to provide water safety.

Finally we discuss the $5 challenge to get EVERY SINGLE LIFEGUARD to donate just five dollars on behalf of the BEN DID GO 10.0 Paddle as a testament to the interconnectedness of lifeguards. Please do so, and share with the next lifeguard. This is not a drill!

https://www.mightycause.com/team/Thelifeguardproject

00:00 Welcome to The Lifeguard Project Podcast

00:47 Spencer's Early Life and Lifeguarding Influences

01:17 Memorable Childhood Water Experiences

03:48 Junior Lifeguards and Family Influence

08:33 The Ben Carlson Memorial Paddle Challenge

11:11 First Lifeguarding Experiences and Meeting Ben Carlson

14:04 Returning to Lifeguard Training at 38

25:58 The Impact of Ben Carlson's Legacy

36:02 Reflecting on Ben Carlson's Legacy

39:49 The Ben Carlson Memorial Paddle

48:15 International Lifeguard Agency Outreach

50:53 The Importance of Lifeguard Training

56:10 Final Thoughts

Spencer's Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/spencestagramin/

Presented by The Ben Carlson Foundation:

https://www.bencarlsonfoundation.org/

https://www.instagram.com/bencarlson_foundation/

Subscribe to the Podcast Here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lifeguard-project/id1748861682

https://open.spotify.com/show/7EoZTDiET6jJ6XJ1g5X54t

https://www.instagram.com/thelifeguardproject/

https://thelifeguardproject.org/

Host, Drasko Bogdanovic:

https://www.bogdogphoto.com/

https://www.instagram.com/bogdogphoto/

Welcome to this episode of The Lifeguard Project Podcast, where today we interview Dr. Andrew Schmidt. Dr. Schmidt started as a junior lifeguard and progressed through the professional lifeguard ranks at Jacksonville Beach, Florida. He currently serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine Jacksonville.

He's a medical director of Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue, deputy Medical Director of University of Florida Health's Trauma one Flight program, and co-founder of Lifeguards Without Borders, a nonprofit dedicated to international drowning prevention. He's also a board member of the Surfers Medical Association and a lead instructor with Surfing Medicine International.

Dr. Schmidt has over a decade of experience on the front lines of emergency care and water safety. He has also authored key drowning treatment guidelines and helped shape national and international policy and trained lifeguards, medics and physicians around the world. From academic research to ocean rescue operation, he brings a spectrum of unique experience, making him a well-respected professional at the intersection of medicine, rescue, and public health.

In this episode, we explore the medical and physiological realities of drowning along with some of its core principles. We'll go into the crucial role that lifeguards and pre-hospital responders have, and how cohesive emergency care protocols can be the difference in these life-saving measures. We'll also dig deep into the importance of education, prevention, and public policy.

We'll take you through the process and specific treatment considerations of drowning from the rescue phase with lifeguards on the beach to the back of the ambulance, into the emergency room, and all the way to the ICU. So stay tuned and enjoy the conversation. And thanks as always for supporting the Lifeguard project.

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Andrew Schmidt

02:38 Dr. Schmidt's Lifeguard Journey

04:38 Balancing Medicine and Lifeguarding

06:52 Impact of Baywatch on Lifeguarding

12:08 The Critical Role of Lifeguards in Drowning Prevention

21:45 Challenges in Drowning Data Collection

34:33 Hypoxia in Drowning

36:39 Reversing Hypoxia

38:25 Challenges in Drowning Protocols

56:11 The Role of Surfers in Rescue Operations

01:07:17 Challenges of Public Access Buoy Programs

01:08:29 Training and Real-Life Rescue Simulations

01:10:19 Respect and Training for Lifeguards

01:12:44 Funding and Support for Lifeguard Programs

01:18:30 Drowning Research and Public Awareness

01:23:27 Medical Protocols and Pre-Hospital Care

01:34:30 Final Thoughts

Andrews Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/@jaxems/videos

Drowning Facts Website:

https://www.notoutofthewater.com/

Andrew's Site:

https://surfemergency.com/

Presented by The Ben Carlson Foundation:

https://www.bencarlsonfoundation.org/

https://www.instagram.com/bencarlson_foundation/

Watch the Podcast on YouTube Here:

https://youtu.be/kM2_7KuS6rU

Subscribe to the Podcast Here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lifeguard-project/id1748861682

https://open.spotify.com/show/7EoZTDiET6jJ6XJ1g5X54t

https://www.instagram.com/thelifeguardproject/

https://thelifeguardproject.org/

Host, Drasko Bogdanovic:

https://www.bogdogphoto.com/

https://www.instagram.com/bogdogphoto/

#TheLifeguardProjectPodcast #BenCarlsonFoundation #LifeguardPodcast

Debbie was one of the first women to step into a lifeguard tower along the Camp Pendleton coast in 1978 and became the first female permanent Peace Officer Lifeguard with California State Parks.

Debbie has served as a leader, a mentor, an international lifeguard, and a training instructor. But lifeguarding wasn't just a job for her, Debbie's husband and two kids also followed in her footsteps. Guarding the beaches along many spots in the California coastline. Now, Debbie is writing a book to shine a light on the overlooked stories of the early women lifeguards, or as we learn in this episode, lifeguards. Debbie and I discuss a wide variety of concepts regarding early lessons learned, stereotypes, and how it all ties back to the common experience amongst lifeguards in general, regardless of gender.

Although we can't share about the book she's writing yet, I can say that I did get to listen to Debbie read the first chapter, which really set the stage for an exciting journey when we do get to reveal it sometime in the future. So stay tuned and enjoy the conversation, and thanks as always for supporting the Lifeguard Project.

00:00 Introduction to Debbie Friedman

02:06 Debbie's Early Life and Swimming Journey

04:49 First Encounters with Lifeguarding

07:39 Challenges and Stereotypes in Lifeguarding

12:09 Gender and Language in Lifeguarding

17:49 Debbie's Lifeguard Tryout Experience

19:46 The First Women Lifeguards

22:51 Early Challenges and Support Systems

42:42 Proving Strength and Capability

47:57 Stereotypes in Lifeguarding

50:37 The Story of Janet Wardell

54:44 Contrasting Experiences: Janet and Carlin

58:30 The Importance of Mentorship

01:04:23 Personal Reflections and Family Legacy

01:17:18 The Last Rescue and Lifeguard Strength

01:26:25 Lifeguarding Lessons and Career Reflections

Presented by The Ben Carlson Foundation:

https://www.bencarlsonfoundation.org/

https://www.instagram.com/bencarlson_foundation/

Watch the Podcast on YouTube Here:

https://youtu.be/lK5ASWlsfZw

Subscribe to the Podcast Here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lifeguard-project/id1748861682

https://open.spotify.com/show/7EoZTDiET6jJ6XJ1g5X54t

https://www.instagram.com/thelifeguardproject/

https://thelifeguardproject.org/

Debbie Friedman’s Story:

https://thelifeguardproject.org/stories/women-in-lifeguarding

Host, Drasko Bogdanovic:

https://www.bogdogphoto.com/

https://www.instagram.com/bogdogphoto/

#TheLifeguardProjectPodcast #BenCarlsonFoundation #LifeguardPodcast

This mini session provides a brief introduction to the California Water Safety Strategy and focuses on a panel discussion from the CA Water Safety Summit in 2025 about the importance of media in transferring ideas of public safety and drowning prevention. We are all responsible in elevating the standard of lifeguard and safety messaging as we share media and raise the bar in how we transfer ideas and represent ourselves.

Thanks for listening!

Zoe Chait is a California State Parks Lifeguard working in Half Moon Bay, CA. Zoe started as a junior lifeguard and has progressed to lifeguarding professionally along with traveling the world chasing waves and competing. At 18 years old and just a few years of Lifeguard experience under her belt she’s able to offer a very unique perspective on life. Zoe has faced many unique challenges working in Half Moon Bay which is characterized by approximately 50 miles of rocky coastline, dangerous waves and beaches, with minimal resources. It is also home to Mavericks, which happens to be her home surf break. Zoe is currently chasing a professional surfing career in big waves and (as she refers to it) "small waves too".

Zoe and I discuss her unique perspective from these two worlds, how they are interconnected, and what she thinks about lifeguarding. Zoe also had the opportunity to perform unique off-duty rescues in her hometown which showcase a tight knit community and reflect a global sense of helping others as a lifeguard.

Thank you as always for listening!