Ocean Rescue

Ocean Rescue

The Town of Palm Beach has over 12 miles of beachfront within its corporate limits. The Ocean Rescue Unit is responsible for the protection of life and property on the Town’s public beaches and surrounding waterways.

The Ocean Rescue Unit operates under the Fire Rescue Department. The Town of Palm Beach employs 6 full-time lifeguards and 7 part-time lifeguards, who are responsible for providing public safety and initial emergency medical service 7 days a week, 365 days per year on the Town's two public beaches. Mid-Town Municipal Beach and Phipps Ocean Park are both equipped with AEDs, rescue paddle boards, rescue boats, response ATVs and state of the art lifeguard towers.

All Ocean Rescue personnel are trained to the first responder level for emergency medical care, additionally; several employees have obtained supplemental advanced training, with 3 currently certified as paramedics and 5 certified as EMTs. An Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic is generally assigned to each beach.

In addition to providing service on the two public beaches, Ocean Rescue responds to aquatic emergencies throughout the Town. Lifeguards are also assigned to the Town's Rescue Dive Team. The Unit is accredited by the United States Lifesaving Association and is recognized as a State of Florida Certified First Responder Agency. All lifeguards must complete an annual USLA re-certifications required 500 meter swim test.