A report on the Mexican Associationâ„¢s activities on lifesaving development and rescue and education in the country:

Development

A report on the Mexican Association’s activities on lifesaving development and rescue and education in the country:

Development

During the national tourism convention in Acapulco, Asociación Mexicana de Salvavidas (AMS) President Dr. Victor Zavala PhD, Carlos Ochoa, AMS representative in Guerrero, and B. Chris Brewster met with Lic. Benjamin Diaz, one of the key Directors for the Mexican Secretary of Tourism. As a result of the meeting there could eventually be a national regulation in Mexico that only people trained to the AMS standards could work as a lifeguard. It is also possible that once this has progressed, there might be a national regulation requiring lifeguards in every tourist area. This meeting also solidified AMS’s position and it is clear that the Secretary of Tourism now knows that there is a Mexican Lifesaving Association; it is the only one recognized by the ILS. Furthermore, it has substantial competency and backup from ILS.

The AMS created the Blue Dolphin Certificate (BDC), an aquatic prevention and rescue certification project for Mexican beaches. BDC’s objective is to encourage local governments to improve quality in matters of aquatic prevention and rescue. In addition, BDC’s primary goals are to decrease the number of recreational aquatic accidents in Mexican waters involving national and foreign visitors, as well as to improve Mexico’s image abroad in the areas of aquatic prevention and rescue in high risk situations.

The city of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Guerrero has become the first city to request Blue Dolphin Certificate recognition by the AMS. Ixtapa’s Lifeguard Program has been running for more than one year with only one drowning instead of 15 they had each season before changes were made. After completing all AMS standards Mayor Silvano Abarca received in April 2007, during the national tourism convention in Acapulco, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo’s BDC from AMS President, Dr. Victor Zavala, accompanied by USLA and ILSA President, B. Chris Brewster and ILSA Delegate, Peter Davis in attendance. This was heavily covered by the local and national media. AMS hopes that in the near future more cities will request their BDC.

The Fire Department in the resort city of Cabo San Lucas, working with the AMS and San Diego Lifeguards, has conducted nine training programs over the past three years. Cabo Lifeguards now guard city beaches year round thanks to the support of Fire Chief Juan Carbajal and Freddy Marquez as Lifeguard Captain.

The Volunteer Lifeguards of Ensenada, Baja California will be granted USD $18,000 from the City of Ensenada for guarding city beaches during Easter, Memorial Day and Summer 2006. The City of Ensenada still expects to hire some of the volunteers as seasonal lifeguards in the near future.

The Puerto Escondido lifeguard program, the only paid lifeguards in Oaxaca, was close to being dissolved during 2006 riots in Oaxaca. AMS and the US Club Tortuga sent letters of support. As a result of this and the perseverance of their Captain, Godofredo Vazquez, the lifeguard program was retained. At present, Oaxaca has 14 groups of volunteer lifeguards. Efforts are underway to continue to fully equip and pay all lifeguards.

Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco started a Lifeguard Program in January 2007. They have 19 lifeguards working in the 17 local beaches. In May 2007 Captain Esteban Calderon requested an AMS and Ocean Lifeguard Academy to certify their lifeguards under AMS standards. Training will take place in July 2007.

Rescue and Education

In November 2007 Veracruz and Boca del Rio’s will have their second lifeguard training under AMS standards. A team from Galveston, Texas and other Mexican instructors will travel to the state of Veracruz to provide this training.

In October 2007 Ixtapa-Zihuatenejo will have their second lifeguard training under AMS standards to renew their Blue Dolphin Certificate. A team from California and other Mexican instructors will travel to provide this training.

Source: Extract from the Report of the America’s Region 2007, submitted by B. Chris Brewster, President Americas Region