Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue Saves Lives in Costa Rican “Sister City”
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Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue Saves Lives in Costa Rican “Sister City”

No Drownings Since June ‘06 Mission Trip

Matt Little, Public Information Specialist
(954) 828-4732 or MLittle@fortlauderdale.gov

Fort Lauderdale - For several years, the remote village of Quepos on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast was experiencing an alarming rate of drownings, losing about 200 lives annually.  Last June, Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue and Sister Cities International in Quepos set out on a mission to reduce drowning in the region.

With private funding for airfare and donated room and board, three City of Fort Lauderdale employees traveled to Quepos to provide the expertise and leadership needed to establish an ocean rescue operation.

"We had to design a program that would work right away, using existing resources,” said Fort Lauderdale lifeguard Giovanni Serrano-Sanchez.  “The situation was urgent.”

The Fort Lauderdale lifeguards quickly established a positive relationship with local authorities and businesses along the beach.  After assessing the situation and developing a plan, the lifeguards had four days to complete their tasks.
The missionary lifeguards set up workshops.  Local firefighters, police officers, Coast Guard, restaurant and lodging employees were trained to perform ocean rescue techniques and basic CPR. 

Meetings with municipal officials yielded a commitment to hire four full-time lifeguards.  Local businesses on the beach were persuaded to provide space for lifeguards and equipment. 

Prior to the mission trip, Quepos’ rescue personnel were located 20 minutes from the beach.  Following discussions with the Fort Lauderdale lifeguards, the local Red Cross agreed to keep an ambulance at the beach.

There have been no drownings in the area since the training sessions by Serrano-Sanchez and colleagues Richie Rivera and Carmello Colon.  But, they say, their work is not done.

"Our Sister-City lifeguards are in dire need of lifesaving equipment,” Serrano-Sanchez said.  “They have only two life-saving buoys and not much else.”

Serrano-Sanchez is asking South Florida residents and businesses to donate unused lifesaving equipment to Quepos.  "Please clean out your garage,” he jokes.  Serrano-Sanchez has made arrangements with a business in Costa Rica to pay for transporting lifesaving equipment from Fort Lauderdale to Quepos.

Donations can be dropped off at Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue, 501 Seabreeze Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.  For more information, call 954-828-4595.

Donation Wish List

  • Sun-screen
  • Binoculars
  • Surf Fins
  • Sun Umbrellas
  • Rescue Buoys
  • Rescue Boards