The Los Angeles City Lifeguard Association (LACLA) is a non-profit organization whose members are professional lifeguards, both full and part time, employed by the City of Los Angeles, Department of Recreation and Parks. The mission of LACLA is to promote aquatic safety awareness and professional lifeguard standards.
LACLA is a chapter of the California Surf Lifesaving Association (CSLSA), which is a regional member of the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA), which is in turn a member of the International Lifesaving Federation (ILSF).
Although LACLA is a chapter of USLA, only LACLA members who work at the City’s Open Water facilities are members of CSLSA and USLA. LACLA members who work at swimming pools receive all benefits of the Association except those provided by CSLSA and USLA. Specifically, CSLSA and USLA benefits include membership kits from both organizations, “American Lifeguard Magazine” and “CalSurf News”, and the opportunity to participate in competitions sponsored by those associations (CSLSA Regional Lifeguard Championships and USLA National Lifeguard Championships).
The primary source of funding for LACLA is membership dues and donations. A secondary source is the sale of lifeguard accessories. Funds offset the cost of membership kit material, accessory items, and help offset the cost of competition sponsorship and the Association’s newsletter.
Each year LACLA sponsors the All City Lifeguard Relays to allow pool lifeguards to demonstrate their abilities in the water while competing against other L.A. City pool lifeguards in swimming events and events that simulate rescue activities and procedures. LACLA also organizes and helps sponsor L.A. City lifeguard teams that compete in other still water and open water competitions.
LACLA members participate in educational presentations and displays at schools and fairs.
LACLA members attend educational conferences, seminars and training, and bring back information about new philosophies and practices in the field of professional lifeguarding. This information is provided to members through mailings and the LACLA Newsletter. |
