HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2026-13COUNTY COUNCIL
COUNTY OF KAUA'I
1'-esolution No. 2026-13
RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING OPEN WATER LIFEGUARDS AS FIRST
RESPONDERS IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THEIR ESSENTIAL ROLE
IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND COMMUNITY
WELL-BEING THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF HAWAI'I
WHEREAS, open water lifeguards perform an essential public safety function
by protecting the lives of countless residents and visitors from death or serious injury
across Kaua'i and throughout the State; and
WHEREAS, in Kaua'i and Maui counties, lifeguards are professionally
designated as ocean safety officers, while lifeguards in the City and County of
Honolulu and Hawai'i County are designated as water safety officers, reflecting their
specialized training, range of responsibilities, and scope of duty; and
WHEREAS , in the performance of their duties, open water lifeguards routinely
place themselves at significant peril, risking 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 arrests, 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 (CPR),
automated external defibrillator (AED) use, advance rescue techniques, and
emergency scene management; and
WHEREAS, open water lifeguards respond to emergencies by attending to,
treating, assisting, and transporting victims, critical duties which collectively
constitute the four (4) 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, all of which
together represent the four ( 4) core tenets commonly used to define a first responder;
and
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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 the programs, protections, and resources
afforded to first responders; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF KAUA'I,
STATE OF HAWAI'I, that the Council recognizes open water lifeguards, including
ocean safety officers and water safety officers, as first responders in acknowledgment
of their essential role in emergency response, public safety, and community
well-being throughout the State of Hawai'i; 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 public safety across the State's ocean, shoreline, and public
environments; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the County Clerk shall forward certified
copies of this Resolution to Kaua'i Mayor Derek S .K. Kawakami, Maui Mayor Richard
T. Bissen, Jr., Hawai'i County Mayor Kimo Alameda, City and County of Honolulu
Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Kaua'i Fire Department Chief Michael Gibson, Maui Fire
Chief Bradford K. Ventura, Hawai'i County Fire Chief Daniel Volpe, and City and
County of Honolulu Fire Chief Sheldon K. Hao.
Introduced by:
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MEL RAPOZO
V:\RESOLUTIONS\2024-2026 TERM\Lifeguard Resolution 4.22.26 (MR) RM_ss.docx
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QCertif itate c!&f in,option
We berebp certifp tbat lS.esolution ~o. 2026-13
lna.s' abopteb hp tbe <!Council of tbe <!Countp of 18..aua'i, ~tate of
1!,awai'i, 1Libu'e, Jkaua'i, j!)awai'i, on April 22 , 2026
~ <!Cbairman & .Jresibing (!!}fficer
JlBateb April 22, 2026
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