Boardworks Rescue Division paddleboard fit nicely in a backpack size bag. Boardworks on an ISLA training trip in the Dominican. The board maneuvers well with a victim on board. Imagine that a company wants you to test a new prototype rescue product. You are thinking rescue can or maybe first-aid equipment. Not so…instead, upon your […]
ISLA Course trainees in La Romana-Bayahibe ISLA trainees with their new ISLA certs! ISLA trainees in Cabarete. This past November, the International Surf Lifesaving Association (ISLA) sent a team of professional lifeguards to the Dominican Republic (DR) as part of an initiative to minimize deaths and injuries caused by drowning. As part of the three […]
This Summer, ISLA gave out two full tuition scholarships totaling over $1200 to two very deserving young students and then documented their experiences in the Junior Guard program they participated in. Both students showed enormous growth in their character, confidence, and skills of being safe in the ocean. They also learned a ton, and met […]
Students get hands-on training and understanding of important lifesaving tools. Students get to visit a lifeguard tower and learn about how to spot a potential rescue victim. ISLA Lifeguard Pete Eich demonstrates tools within a lifeguard truck first aid kit. Students were put into a lifeguard relay to learn about the lifeguard buoy and teamwork! […]
Quiksilver Foundation donates to ISLA for projects in the Dominican. ISLA Directors Henry and Olin prepare the uniforms for transport to the DR. ISLA wanted to give a shout out and special thanks to the Quiksilver Foundation for their product donation valued at over $7500 for ISLA’s upcoming projects in the Dominican Republic this month! […]
Each year during the Spring week of Easter the sleepy village transforms itself into a unique and eclectic destination getaway for the family and friends of the fishermen, and for the Nicaraguan owners of the many vacation homes that lay dormant for most the year. During ISLA’s first year as an organization, this little beach […]
In the past week, ISLA, had the privilege of sponsoring our largest volunteer mission to date. The mission pulled in 21 volunteers from various regions including Torrey Pines, Carlsbad, Crystal Cove, Huntington Beach, Manhattan Beach and New Jersey. The trip was led by, ISLA Coordinator, Aaron Quintanar. Aaron is well known throughout Baja Mexico for […]
This past weekend the ISLA team was featured on Los Angeles’s KIIS fm radio station in their weekly Community Council program hosted by DJ Jesse Lozano. The show, dedicated to raising awareness about local charities is syndicated over several radio stations across Southern California and satellite radio across the United States. We have posted the […]
This past week, ISLA was awarded over $10,000 in funding from Chase Bank, in the 2012 Chase Grant Giveaway. The contest was opened for over 2 weeks as voters from their Facebook accounts or from their Chase accounts could vote for any of the 2500 charities in the race. ISLA finished with a 161st place […]
We have put together a new video to showcase the work that has gone on at ISLA over the past few years. Please take a look. It would also mean the world to us if you could share this video to anyone and everyone! Video Transcript: Since 2008, ISLA has been fighting against drowning on […]
5 Ways Olin Patterson Transformed ISLA into a Global Lifesaving Force 1. The Humble Beginnings of ISLA 2. Overcoming Adversity 3. Scaling the Mission 4. A Network of Passionate Volunteers 5. Global Impact and Local Benefits Olin Patterson’s Continued Vision for ISLA’s Future Get Involved with ISLA Final Thoughts External Resource
Summer is now over half-way done and our 2012 Junior Guard Scholarship winners Richard and Gabriela have been experiencing an incredible summer at the Huntington Beach Junior Lifeguard Program. This is the third out of four videos we are producing to document Richard and Gabriela’s Junior Guard experience. Here we highlight Richard’s much anticipated pier […]
ISLA’s Matt Henry and Ada Jaspers take the overall Gold! Competitor Vincent Trotter sets up for a nice ride. ISLA’s booth Our new ISLA books were a success for showing off our projects all over the world!This past weekend was the fourth annual Chubascos Bodysurfing Championship in Huntington Beach. The morning started off with a […]
Leo during Dominican Republic’s Certification Ceremony with ISLA. Leo with a recent ISLA-certified lifeguard in the Dominican Republic Leo (far left) with ISLA’s Dominican Republic Instructors.Leo Oorts, a 26 year old from Long Beach, CA, has been a volunteer with ISLA since 2011 when he attended his first trip to the Dominican Republic in 2011. […]
Lifeguards from all over the state line up on the startline for the paddle board contest. Paddle boards and surf skis cover the entire beach! ISLA lifeguard Pete Eich joins his home team of Huntington City Beach for the Rescue Relay. Lifeguards prepare the dory boats for the Open Mens Division Relay. ISLA Lifeguards Rocky […]
Raquel Lizarraga from California, USA explains what it’s like to be an ISLA volunteer in Nicaragua.
ISLA joining forces with TJ lifeguards and the IBLA. Lifeguards respond quickly to a very serious medical aid. Lifeguarding the US – Mexican Border. US – Mex lifeguard Alliance. San Diego guard Daniel patrols on the ATV. Last week, ISLA kicked off the Project Baja California Exchange with the Tijuana […]
We first read about Erin Michelson of Go Erin Go, in a National Geographic article about her amazing voyage several months ago. Erin had started an epic journey in December of 2010, to spend two years in over 70 countries donating her time and money to causes that focus mostly on child brutality, crises refuge, […]
Meet Samir Aleman. Samir Aleman is an eighteen year-old volunteer for the Red Cross of Nicaragua. Samir has been volunteering for the Red Cross since he was 9 years old, and has been volunteering as a lifeguard since he was 15. This past Spring, Samir was involved in one of ISLA lifeguard courses to help […]
Dean Fernandez shares his ISLA experience as a volunteer lifeguard in the Dominican Republic during the Semana Santa holiday.
Meet Nicaragua’s Bayardo Sandoval, a veteran Red Cross volunteer for his country and a recently certified ISLA lifeguard: Bueno naci en Corinto hace veinticinco años. Soy Nicaraguense. Desde nino me gustava la adrenalin alas emosiones. Me gusta de pocas palabras entre ala Cruz Roja hace cinco años soy Salvavidas y Socorrista. Me gusta saver que […]
Nick Mitchell shares his experience as a humanitarian lifeguard during Semana Santa in Nicaragua.
Meet the ISLA 2012 Junior Guard Scholarship winners. With summer getting underway, ISLA is creating a four-part video series to feature the progress and growth these two outstanding individuals will make this summer. We wish them all the best and know they will be having a ton of fun as well!
Words from Miguel Espinales a Red Cross volunteer of Nicaragua: Hola, mi nombre es Miguel Espinales, tengo 21 años de edad. Soy de Chinandega Nicaragua estudiando una licenciatura en educación en la Universidad de León, del mismo país. Yo he trabajado con la Cruz Roja Nicaragüense como socorrista voluntario desde enero de 2007. Durante los […]
Taylor McGowan with his DR team of ISLA lifeguards I’m Taylor McGowan and I’m an Open Water Lifeguard I for the city of Los Angeles. I was practically raised on the beach, and I was a junior lifeguard for Los Angeles County for eight years before I became a lifeguard. It’s in my blood; both […]
ISLA Junior Guard Scholarship Winner Richard RamirezISLA Junior Guard Scholarship Winner Gabriela McCainISLA is proud to announce the winners of our 2012 Junior Guard Scholarship! Marking the first year of ISLA’s Junior Guard scholarship the quality of our applicants was fantastic. ISLA would like to thank everyone who applied for sharing your inspiring stories with […]
Equipment for ISLA Lifeguards donated from Quiksilver Foundation at the Red Cross HQ in Nicaragua. ISLA Lifeguards on watch in El Transito Beach, Nicaragua. ISLA Lifeguards Julie and Pat. Leaving Quiksilver supplies to our Red Cross friends in Nagarote. During ISLA’s 2012 Easter holiday lifeguard trips to the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, the Quiksilver Foundation […]
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Not only will you get any answers you’re looking for, but you’ll create awareness for the global drowning epidemic, and help us sustain and acquire corporate sponsors... which in turn means lower trip costs, more certification courses, bigger discounts on gear, and free swag for you!