Palm Beach Ocean Rescue Unit Safeguards 12-Mile Beachfront with Year-Round Lifeguard Services

Palm Beach's Ocean Rescue Unit stands as a vital line of defense for the town's extensive 12-mile beachfront. Operating under the Fire Rescue Department, this dedicated team ensures the safety of residents and visitors across the Town's public beaches and surrounding waterways every day of the year.

The unit employs a team of 6 full-time and 7 part-time lifeguards. These professionals provide public safety and initial emergency medical services 365 days a year on the Town's two public beaches: Mid-Town Municipal Beach and Phipps Ocean Park. Both locations are well-equipped with essential rescue gear, including AEDs, rescue paddle boards, rescue boats, response ATVs, and state-of-the-art lifeguard towers.

All Ocean Rescue personnel receive training to the first responder level for emergency medical care. The unit also boasts advanced medical capabilities, with 3 employees certified as paramedics and 5 as EMTs. An Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic is typically assigned to each beach, enhancing the unit's ability to respond swiftly to medical emergencies.

Beyond beach patrols, the Ocean Rescue Unit responds to aquatic emergencies throughout the Town and assigns lifeguards to the Town's Rescue Dive Team. The United States Lifesaving Association accredits the unit, and it holds recognition as a State of Florida Certified First Responder Agency. All lifeguards must complete an annual USLA re-certification, which includes a required 500-meter swim test.