T

he beach life is one filled with playing with 

friends and family along the shores, building 

sandcastles, and frolicking in the waves. 

There are a few special people who make 

this carefree lifestyle possible; they are the Lifeguards. 

Aspiring lifeguards have been participating in the 

Junior Lifeguard Program at Pensacola Beach since 

2007. This incredible program offers youth ages 13 

through 15 the opportunity to become a coveted Junior 

Lifeguard. The program typically has 6-8 boys and girls 

who are completely focused on learning lifeguarding 

techniques over the course of a two-week period. Young 

teens attend class Monday through Friday with two-

week sessions held in both June and July where they 

learn what it takes to be a “Guardian of the Gulf”. 

The summer program teaches youth a wide variety 

of important abilities including medical skills like 

Basic Life Support and CPR. They also learn a wide 

range of lifeguarding skills including surf rescue and 

how to use varied equipment. In addition to these 

useful skills they are also taught all about the beach 

environment including weather, wildlife, surf, and 

currents. The program has grown and evolved over the 

years. “They learn how to watch the water, how to spot 

rip currents, and all the basic skills needed to become a 

Pensacola Beach Lifeguard,” said Alexander Johnson, 

Water Safety Deputy Chief of the Escambia County 

Public Safety 

Department. 

He described, 

“Our Junior 

Lifeguard 

Program has 

two main 

goals: One 

is to spread 

beach safety 

knowledge, 

and second is 

to train and 

recruit future 

Pensacola 

Beach 

Lifeguards.

Approximately 

15 of our lifeguards over the years were former Junior 

Lifeguards.” The classes take place on Pensacola Beach, 

primarily at the Casino Beach location. 

The program offers an excellent alternative summer 

camp that promotes physical fitness, training in beach 

safety, and education on the historical, ecological, 

and economic significance of Pensacola Beach. The 

Escambia County Public Safety Department has had 

great success with putting approximately 100 kids 

through the program over the years. “All of the 

100 students learned beach safety and medical 

skills that will benefit them, their families, 

and communities,” explained Alexander, “It 

has been an honor to have the opportunity 

to teach and train young members of our 

community, to see them grow up and become 

Pensacola Beach Lifeguards, and then go on 

to successful careers.” Several of the original 

Junior Lifeguards from 2007 and 2008 are 

now in medical school and physician assistant 

school, and they cite their passion for medicine 

as beginning with the medical knowledge they 

learned as a Junior Lifeguard and Pensacola 

Beach Lifeguard. The Pensacola Beach Junior 

Lifeguard Program teaches youth to respect, 

and not fear, the Gulf, rip currents, and waves. 

This is the mindset that we should all adopt 

when hitting the beach this summer. Let’s 

keep it safe and have some fun in the sun! 

 story by

 

Courtney Murray

  

|  photos provided by

 

Pensacola Beach Lifeguards

Spa & Resort Profile 

Junior Lifeguards

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