ISLA lifeguards Conduct Junior Lifeguard Camp in Dominican Republic

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. - June 10, 2013 - PRLog -- Founded in 2008, ISLA’s mission is to prevent drowning worldwide by building a culture of water safety. Comprised entirely of volunteers; the organization provides training, medical suplies, disaster relief, and emergency personnel to communities in need around the world.

The junior lifeguard training camp was aimed at encouraging safe ocean practices as well as fostering aquatic culture in the north coast community. The camp was three days with twenty children, ranging from ages seven to seventeen.  

The students participated in learning different ocean hazards as well as various rescue and first aid techniques.  ISLA volunteer and Project Coordinator, Tyler Erwin, affirmed  “Every junior lifeguard who took the course not only had a good time in the program, but was able to walk away with a better understanding of the ocean and the potential danger of its ever-changing ways.”

The second component of the project was a continued volunteer lifeguard mission in partnership with the Dominican Civil Defense over the Semana Santa (Easter Holy Week) holiday. Semana Santa is the busiest and most festive beach weekend in the country. This marks the second year that volunteer ISLA lifeguards supported the Semana Santa Cabarete Public Saftey Operation with aquatic expertise and volunteer lifeguards. “ Sustainability of these projects is paramount. We have a responsibility to keep coming back to aide the local lifeguards until we are confident they no longer need our help,” stated Tyler while watching the water of Cabarete.

The project was ran and coordinated by Tyler Erwin from Huntington City Beach, and also included ISLA volunteers Henry Reyes from Huntington City Beach, Travis Bjorndal from San Diego State Parks, ISLA Public Relations Manager Raquel Lizarraga, Dominican Project Coordinator Joe Manuel Perez, and Marcel Mera Garcia ISLA Lifeguard.  Dominican coordinators and partners include Renate Astacio, Laurel Eastman, Pauhana surf school, Eva Knof, Robert Otis and Diego at Viva Tangerine.  

Future Dominican Projects will continue the effort to establish permanent lifeguards in the country and promote water safety and aquatic culture on the island.

To learn more about ISLA, please visit the website at http://www.islasurf.org. To reduce drowning worldwide, please donate to the Dominican Republic trip, http://www.islasurf.org/shop-donate/.