SCR56

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:

Open Water Lifeguards; First Responders; Recognition

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	56
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII