Semana Santa Nicaragua 2014

Over the Easter weekend, ISLA along with Lifeguard without Borders sent a team of 9 professional lifeguards to provide rescue equipment and assist the Nicaragua Red Cross (NRC) with aquatic safety lifeguard rescue operations in Nicaragua. The Semana Santa national holiday celebration and is traditionally associated with large crowds, large beach festivals and parties, and multiple drowning events.

The ISLA/LWB team split into two large groups to guard Jiquilillo Beach and Pase el Cabello from April 17-April 20.

The team consisted of:

Mike Hudson – Corolla Ocean Rescue
Hannah Wrenn – City of Fernandina Beach Ocean Rescue
Angela Ray – City of Fernandina Beach Ocean Rescue
Vasili Pleqi – City of Jacksonville Beach
Lauren Badenhoop – American Red Cross Volunteer Lifesaving Coprs
Joshua Pighetti – Los Angeles County & Santa Barbara City
Natalie Taylor – City of Del Mar
Justin Sempsrot – Lifeguards Without Borders
Henry Reyes – City of Huntington Beach

Our teams started each morning with physical training and practicing lifeguard techniques before guarding the beaches for approximately 8 hours. Although the beach crowds were smaller than usual due to a series of earthquakes prior to the Easter weekend and the country being on a tsunami warning , there were still numerous rip currents and the team made two rescues and had 216 preventative actions.

View photos from the trip!  |  Read the Official Press Release.