The Lifeguard Project

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 [https://www.youtube.com/@jaxems/videos] Drowning Facts Website: https://www.notoutofthewater.com/ [https://www.notoutofthewater.com/] Andrew's Site: https://surfemergency.com/ [https://surfemergency.com/] Presented by The Ben Carlson Foundation: https://www.bencarlsonfoundation.org/ [https://www.bencarlsonfoundation.org/] https://www.instagram.com/bencarlson_foundation/ [https://www.instagram.com/bencarlson_foundation/] Watch the Podcast on YouTube Here: https://youtu.be/kM2_7KuS6rU [https://youtu.be/kM2_7KuS6rU] Subscribe to the Podcast Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lifeguard-project/id1748861682 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lifeguard-project/id1748861682] https://open.spotify.com/show/7EoZTDiET6jJ6XJ1g5X54t [https://open.spotify.com/show/7EoZTDiET6jJ6XJ1g5X54t] https://www.instagram.com/thelifeguardproject/ [https://www.instagram.com/thelifeguardproject/] https://thelifeguardproject.org/ [https://thelifeguardproject.org/] Host, Drasko Bogdanovic: https://www.bogdogphoto.com/ [https://www.bogdogphoto.com/] https://www.instagram.com/bogdogphoto/ [https://www.instagram.com/bogdogphoto/] #TheLifeguardProjectPodcast #BenCarlsonFoundation #LifeguardPodcast Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-lifeguard-project/donations [https://redcircle.com/the-lifeguard-project/donations]

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.bencarlsonfoundation.org/] https://www.instagram.com/bencarlson_foundation/ [https://www.instagram.com/bencarlson_foundation/] Watch the Podcast on YouTube Here: https://youtu.be/lK5ASWlsfZw [https://youtu.be/lK5ASWlsfZw] Subscribe to the Podcast Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lifeguard-project/id1748861682 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lifeguard-project/id1748861682] https://open.spotify.com/show/7EoZTDiET6jJ6XJ1g5X54t [https://open.spotify.com/show/7EoZTDiET6jJ6XJ1g5X54t] https://www.instagram.com/thelifeguardproject/ [https://www.instagram.com/thelifeguardproject/] https://thelifeguardproject.org/ [https://thelifeguardproject.org/] Debbie Friedman’s Story: https://thelifeguardproject.org/stories/women-in-lifeguarding [https://thelifeguardproject.org/stories/women-in-lifeguarding] Host, Drasko Bogdanovic: https://www.bogdogphoto.com/ [https://www.bogdogphoto.com/] https://www.instagram.com/bogdogphoto/ [https://www.instagram.com/bogdogphoto/] #TheLifeguardProjectPodcast #BenCarlsonFoundation #LifeguardPodcast Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-lifeguard-project/donations [https://redcircle.com/the-lifeguard-project/donations]

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! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-lifeguard-project/donations [https://redcircle.com/the-lifeguard-project/donations]

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! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-lifeguard-project/donations [https://redcircle.com/the-lifeguard-project/donations]

Welcome to the first "Expression Session" a Lifeguard Project mini podcast "session" designed for bite sized lifeguard topics and interesting information to fit into your day. We will be featuring all sorts of lifeguard topics and ideas as well as micro-learnings, and much more! Have an idea? Reach out! Topic: Tips on applying for The Ben Carlson Scholarship. This scholarship is for 3 open water lifeguards who will each be awarded $20,000 to help pay for college! Any lifeguard agency in the world is eligible. https://www.bencarlsonfoundation.org/scholarship DEADLINE TO APPLY FEB 1, 2025! Eligibility Criteria: * Applicants must have past or present participation in a junior lifeguard program or past or present employment as an open water lifeguard (river, lake, ocean). Pool lifeguarding and/or certification are not considered.  * In order to apply, candidates need to attend a four-year post-secondary school during the 2025/2026 academic year as a full-time undergraduate student pursuing their first undergraduate degree. This scholarship will not be awarded to students attending community college or trade schools, or for graduate education. Students will be required to submit proof of admission, and registration or a course schedule that shows adequate units enrolled prior to disbursement of funds.  * Applicants must be a current high school senior or undergraduate student. Students continuing or applying to graduate schools will not be considered.  * Applicants must demonstrate a strong work ethic, independence, academic rigor and promise, athleticism, and service to the community.  * High School students must have a minimum unweighted 3.2 GPA, and undergraduate students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and be taking a full-time academic course load. Transcripts will be required for all scholarship finalists. Please report accurately on your application.  Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-lifeguard-project/donations [https://redcircle.com/the-lifeguard-project/donations]