City of Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue - About
City of Fort Lauderdale - Ocean Rescue
Ocean Rescue Lifeguard Tower
City HallBusinessCommunityLeisureHome
  

About Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue

Rescue TruckThe City of Fort Lauderdale has a rich history of continuous ocean lifesaving services, dating back to 1926. Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue is USLA certified and nationally recognized for excellence.

Recent Awards

  • 2004 FBPCA "Lifeguard of the Year" - Runner Up Bill Evans
  • 2005 FBPCA "Lifeguard of the Year" - Jim McCrady
  • 2005 FBPCA Beach Patrol of the Year" - Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue
  • 2005 Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue Emergency Medical Challenge Basic Life Support Champions - Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue
  • 2006 1st Annual USLA Southeast Region 2-Mile Surf Boat Race Series Overall Series Team Champions - Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue
  • 2006 First-Ever Florida Emergency Medicine Foundation CLINCON William H. Shearer International Ocean Rescue Advanced Life Support Team
  • 2006 FBPCA/USLA SER Ocean Lifesaving B.L.S. Competition Series Champions
  • 2006 1st Annual USLA Southeast Region 2-Mile Surf Boat Race Series Overall Series Individual Champion - Chris Hoch
  • 2006 18th Annual Fort Lauderdale Relays Invitational Surf Lifesaving Competition Team Champions - Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue
  • 2006 Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue Emergency Medical Challenge Basic Life Support Champions - Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue
  • 2007 USLA Southeast Regional Lifeguard Championship Team Runner Up
  • 2007 USLA Southeast Regional Lifeguard Champion - Mitch McCrady (American Ironman)
  • 2007 USLA Southeast Regional Lifeguard Champion - Katherine Noland (American Ironwoman)
  • 2007 USLA Southeast Regional Lifeguard Champion - Christine McCrady (American Ironwoman 30-34 Women)
  • 2007 USLA Southeast Regional Lifeguard Champion - Katherine Noland (Rescueboard Race)
  • 2007 USLA Southeast Regional Lifeguard Champion - Chris Hoch (Doubles Surfboat)
  • 2007 USLA Southeast Regional Lifeguard Champion - Chris Hoch (Doubles Surfboat 35-39 Men)
  • 2007 USLA Southeast Regional Lifeguard Champion - Jim McCrady (Doubles Surfboat 40-44 Men)
  • 2007 USLA Southeast Regional Lifeguard Champion - Christine McCrady & Katherine Noland (Rescueboard Rescue)
  • 2007 USLA Southeast Regional Lifeguard Champion - Katherine Noland (Beach Flags)
  • 2007 USLA Southeast Regional Lifeguard Champion - Richie Rivera (Beach Flags 55-59 Men)
  • 2007 USLA Southeast Regional Lifeguard Champion - Christine McCrady (International Ironwoman 30-34 Women)
  • 2007 USLA Southeast Regional Lifeguard Champion - Katherine Noland (4 x 100 Run Relay)
  • 2007 USLA Southeast Regional Lifeguard Champion - Katherine Noland (Surf Rescue)
  • 2007 USLA Southeast Regional Lifeguard Champion - Christine McCrady (Run-Swim-Run 30-34 Women)
  • 2007 USLA Southeast Regional Lifeguard Champion - Richie Rivera (Run-Swim-Run 55-59 Men)
  • 2007 USLA Southeast Regional Lifeguard Champion - Mitch McCrady (Singles Surfboat)
  • 2007 USLA Southeast Regional Lifeguard Champion - Christine McCrady (Singles Surfboat)
  • 2007 USLA Southeast Regional Lifeguard Champion - Christine McCrady (Surf Ski 30-34 Women)
  • 2007 USLA Southeast Regional Lifeguard Champion - Mitch McCrady (Surf Ski 35-39 Men)
  • 2007 USLA Southeast Regional Lifeguard Champion - Katherine Noland (Surf Swim)
  • 2007 USLA SER Sprint Series Final Overall Team Runner Up - Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue
  • 2007 Cocoa Beach 22-Mile Causeway-to-Causeway Row Overall Champions - Jim McCrady & Andy Engle
  • 2007 FBPCA "Lifeguard of the Year" Gio Serrano.
  • 2007 FBPCA Beach Patrol of the Year" Runner Up Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue
  • 2007 USLA Lifeguard Nationals - Third place
  • Florida Beach Patrol Chief’s Association runner-up for Lifeguard of the Year, Bill Evans.
  • Florida Emergency Medicine Foundation CLINCON William H. Shearer International Basic Life Support 3rd Place Team (1st place among Ocean Rescue Agencies), Gio Serrano, Mike Sica, & Brian McAdam.
  • First-Ever Florida Emergency Medicine Foundation CLINCON William H. Shearer International Ocean Rescue Advanced Life Support Team – 17th Overall.
  • Unofficial Ocean Lifesaving B.L.S. Competition Series Champions.
  • United States Lifesaving Association National Lifeguard Championships, 2nd place Small Beach Patrol Division.
  • Blue Wave Award for clean water and safe beaches.

Contributions to Ocean Lifesaving

  • Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue continues to serve in a national leadership role, contributing to the profession of ocean lifesaving.
  • 2000 to present- Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue Captain elected Vice-President of the Florida Ocean Rescue Chief’s Association.
  • 2005 Florida Beach Safety Educational Workshop & Conference – Keynote speaker for this state-wide symposium facilitated by the Florida Beach Patrol Chiefs Association & the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
  • 2004-2005 USLA Lifeguard Training Academy Instructors in Destin, Florida - Successfully trained over 60 students for Destin State Fire District Chief Tuffy Dixon. The lifeguard training academy was completed March 13th, 2004, and was commissioned so that Destin could field its first professional lifeguard service.
  • 2000 Fort Lauderdale Beach Lifeguard, Christine McCrady named “Lifeguard of the Year”.
  • 1999-2004- F.B.P.C.A. Ocean-Mile Swim Series Paddleboard Series Champions: Christine McCrady, Kelley Helt, Joe D’Agostino.
  • 1999 & 2000- United States Lifesaving Association Southeast Region Vice-President, Jim McCrady.
  • 2001-2002- United States Lifesaving Association Southeast Region President, Jim McCrady.
  • 2001-2005- Unofficial F.B.P.C.A. / U.S.L.A. Southeast Region Liaison Officer, Jim McCrady.
  • 2001-2002- United States Lifesaving Association Southeast Region Competition Director, Eric Bebchick.
  • Participated in a demonstration for the Broward County Young Professionals organization.
  • Participated in the Make-a-Wish Foundation’s effort to help make a dying girl’s wish come true on Fort Lauderdale Beach.
  • 2002-2005 United States Lifesaving Association Southeast Region Advisor, Secretary & Public Information & Publicity Officer Jim McCrady.
  • 2002-2005 Sent field-training officers to the Florida Panhandle to teach over 60 students at USLA surf lifeguard training academies.
  • 2004 USLA Open-Water Swim Race & Triathlon Safety Guidelines– Authoring Committee.
  • 2004 USLA Personal Watercraft Certification Guidelines – Authoring Committee.
  • 2001 – 2004 Participated in the USLA National Textbook and Curriculum Committee and editing of the new USLA open water lifesaving manual.
  • 2001 – 2005 Ocean Rescue staff volunteered their time to participate in USLA committees on Certification, Recurrent Lifeguard, Competition, and Heroic Acts.
  • 2006 – Present, USLA Southeast Region Public Education Director/Webmaster, Gio Serrano.
  • 2006 USLA Southeast Region Training Officer Academy, Hosted by F.L.O.R.