California State Parks Train New Lifeguards to Teach Junior Program

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TRINIDAD, CA (KIEM) – California State Parks is getting ready for their Junior Lifeguard Program. Before residents hit the water, State Parks are teaching new lifeguards who want to help save lives.

Asking someone if they’re okay, pumping your hands on their chest, and doing mouth to mouth breaths. Its all part of the California State Parks Lifeguard Training.

“Get in the ocean in an intense scenario, and have the skills not only to keep yourself safe. But to save someone else who’s unconscious or totally helpless,” said Dillon Cleavenger a State Park Lifeguard and Program Coordinator.

Living along the coast and wanting to save lives is exactly what motivates Elizabeth Earle-Rouse to become a lifeguard. The HSU track athlete and All-American high jumper wants to make a difference in the water.

“You hear just stories about people getting in trouble, people hurting themselves. I just hope to make it like a safer place. Or at least educate people so they know what they’re doing,” said Elizabeth Earle-Rouse a New California State Parks Lifeguard.

Earle-Rouse learned a lot during her training.

“It was interesting. It was pretty hard. A lot of physical stuff, and a lot of stress testing to try and get us ready for what a real potential scenario could be like,” said Earle-Rouse.

Another new lifeguard also wants to save lives. But her passion stems from going to the beach with her kids.

“I’m constantly taking my children out into the ocean. And often times I’ll have like three or four 12-year-old boys with me in the water and we’ll be surfing. I wanted to learn how to rescue,” said Shannon Ingram a New California State Parks Lifeguard.

Once all the training was over, Shannon Ingram says she came out as a different person.

“I learned a lot about myself for one. How to be strong through a hard situation. I also learned how to feel alone and be alone, and that would be okay,” said Ingram.

The California State Parks Junior Lifeguard session in Trinidad starts on July 8th. For more information, go to Parks.CA.gov