The United
States Lifesaving Association has calculated the chance that a
person will drown while attending a beach protected by USLA-affiliated
lifeguards at 1 in 18 million (.0000055%). This is based on the
last ten years of reports from USLA-affiliated lifeguard agencies,
comparing estimated beach attendance to the number of drownings
in areas under lifeguard protection.
The
California Surf Life Saving Association annually polls its chapters
for the number of rescues, drownings, and other statistical information
reported by lifeguard agencies. This is not a comprehensive list
of all statistics generated by all beach lifeguard agencies, but
the statistics of most major agencies are included here. Please see Resources below.
The CSLSA Statistics committee is currently developing a standardized form for lifeguard agencies to use in the collection of data. There is a wide diversity in the methods of collection that hinders expeditious analysis. At the CSLSA Spring, 2008 Board of Directors meeting, the Statistics committee submitted two template forms to assist agencies in the collection of aquatic safety-related statistics. Please see Forms below.