Deep Dive Into Water Safety

Episode Notes 2.19.26 Taishi Otono is a respected leader in ocean safety and lifesaving in Okinawa, Japan, and an emerging international voice in collaborative drowning prevention. Through his work with the Okinawan lifesaving community, Otono has helped strengthen professional guard training, rescue operations, and cross-cultural partnerships aimed at improving coastal safety. Okinawa shares many similarities with Hawaiʻi—both are island regions with strong ocean cultures, heavy tourism, and complex coastal environments shaped by reef systems, powerful currents, and seasonal weather patterns. Like Hawaiʻi, Okinawa faces the dual challenge of protecting residents while also safeguarding visitors who may have limited ocean experience. Otono’s work focuses on practical, field-based solutions that improve real-world outcomes for lifeguards and the public. In recent years, Otono has collaborated with ocean safety leaders in Hawaiʻi, including partnerships connected with the Hawaii Lifeguard Association and North Shore ocean safety professionals. These exchanges have included joint training sessions, rescue technique discussions, jet ski deployment strategies, and shared analysis of rip-current response models. His involvement reflects a growing recognition that drowning prevention benefits from international cooperation and shared data. A key aspect of Otono’s leadership is his emphasis on adaptability. Okinawan beaches, like those in Hawaiʻi, range from protected lagoons to high-energy reef breaks. Guard teams must understand localized hazards, communicate clearly with multilingual visitors, and respond quickly to dynamic surf conditions. Otono has been instrumental in refining operational approaches that integrate traditional lifesaving methods with modern rescue equipment and personal watercraft support. Beyond operational work, Otono supports public education efforts that improve awareness of rip currents, reef hazards, and safe ocean behavior. By working alongside international experts and local community leaders, he contributes to a broader message: drowning is preventable when science, training, and communication work together. His collaboration with Hawaiʻi represents more than a professional exchange—it reflects a shared island responsibility. Both Okinawa and Hawaiʻi understand that the ocean is central to culture, recreation, and identity. Through ongoing partnership, Taishi Otono is helping build a stronger, more connected global water safety network—one that prioritizes prevention, preparedness, and respect for the sea.** Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety

Episode Notes Why aren’t lifeguards first responders? This interview is focusing on a part of aquatic safety that is often overlooked but critically important the psychological impact of critical incidents on lifeguards and aquatic professionals. This conversation is about evidence, responsibility, and the people who protect lives in and around the water and what it takes to protect them in return. Lifeguards are routinely exposed to high-stress events: rescues, near-drownings, fatalities, and repeated exposure to trauma. Yet unlike many other first-responder professions, the mental health and wellbeing of lifeguards has historically been under-studied and under-resourced. Three leaders who are working together to change that through research, international collaboration, and practical support systems for lifeguards and aquatic professionals worldwide are part of this important discussion. Dr. Jaz Lawes is the National Research Manager for Surf Life Saving Australia, with extensive experience in applied research that directly informs frontline lifesaving practice. Dr. Sam Fien is a Senior Lecturer at CQUniversity Australia, the National Wellbeing Advisor for Surf Life Saving Australia, and the State Lifesaving Officer and Research Panel Chair for Surf Life Saving Queensland. Her work bridges research, policy, and operational wellbeing across lifesaving organizations. And Tyler Anderson is the President of the International Lifeguard Critical Incident Response Alliance, an organization dedicated to peer support, critical incident stress management, and post-incident care for lifeguards and aquatic professionals. Together, they are part of a team that created the International Aquatic Personnel Critical Incident Prevalence & Impact Survey a global effort to document, at scale, what lifeguards and allied aquatic professionals experience, how those experiences affect them, and what support systems truly make a difference. The survey is open through July of 2026 and welcomes participation from adult lifeguards, past or present, as well as allied aquatic professionals including beach, pool, and waterpark leadership who support lifeguards in their work. If you would like to participate, the survey can be accessed at :https://qr.ilcira.org/CISurvey And for aquatic leaders interested in learning more about building Peer Support Teams or integrating post-incident Critical Incident Stress Management services into their operations, more information is available by contacting: info@ilcira.org** Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety

Episode Notes 2.14.26: Jamie McMahan, a leading researcher whose work focuses on how people experience and survive rip currents in real-world ocean conditions. Jamie is a professor of oceanography at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. His research has helped reshape how scientists, lifeguards, and safety professionals understand rip currents not just as physical ocean processes, but as human survival events. With coastal drowning remaining a critical issue worldwide and here in Hawaiʻi this conversation is especially timely. We explore what research tells us about how rip currents actually work, why traditional safety messaging sometimes fails in real conditions, and how new, evidence-based approaches can better help both locals and visitors respond effectively when they find themselves caught in a rip current. Rip-current science is solid. The challenge is human behavior and communication.Effective prevention depends on clear, location-specific messaging, early education, visual demonstration, and close collaboration between scientists and lifeguards.  He has volunteered to meet with guards online to discuss all the technical questions they may have about rip currents. ** Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety

Episode Notes July 18, 2025 Extra Interview: Margaret talks in studio with Ian Couch, the water safety expert for Worldʻs Toughest Row. The Toughest Row folks were on Kauaʻi receiving teams of rowers who traveled from Monterey, CA to Hanalei Bay. Ian talks about making safety a culture and how athletes take on this grueling and amazing trip. Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety

Episode Notes September 16, 2025  John Kaleimakaliʻi Thornton Clarke, who happens to be the grand nephew of Duke Kahanamoku, is an accomplished waterman in his own right and a researcher with the Hawaii Department of Health. He epically swam around Maui to bring awareness to the fact that native Hawaiians are drowning at a higher rate than other population groups. Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety

Episode Notes August 15, 2025  Niki Roderick is the founder and CEO of Free Dive Safe and is the NZ record holder for free diving. A dedicated ocean woman, she is also a strong advocate for water safety in schools. But not only for children, for adults and all ocean lovers. Her work supports free divers, paddlers, spear-fishers, boaters and more. She is currently working to get water safety as standard curriculum in Hawaii middle schools. Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety

Episode Notes Margaret invites North Shore lifeguard Chris Pico in studio to share about the importance of water safety from the lifeguard’s perspective and to share about the free app Pulse Point. What’s charming is that Chris’ daughter, Harper, was in studio as well, watching her show and petting the dog and you can hear it a bit. Chris said, before we started the show, that he sought out Pulse Point on Kauaʻi for her. Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety

Episode Notes July 18, 2025 Full On-Air Show: Duane DeSoto called in to the studio. He is instrumental in the Hawaii nonprofit Nā Kama Kai, which focuses on connecting keiki to the ʻāina and the kai. Duane is working hard to promote a safe water culture among the people of Hawaii and his message is broad and applicable for all water people. Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety

Episode Notes Drasko Bogdanovic  Reframing Water Safety Drasko Bogdanovic is a California State Parks ocean lifeguard, flight paramedic, educator, and the founder of The Lifeguard Project, a national storytelling and advocacy platform focused on reframing how lifeguarding and drowning prevention are understood. His work aligns closely with Hawaiʻi, widely recognized as the epicenter of water safety, where the ocean demands exceptional expertise, vigilance, and cultural awareness. Drawing from frontline experience, Drasko approaches drowning prevention not as a series of isolated accidents, but as a predictable and preventable public health issue. Through The Lifeguard Project, he emphasizes that prevention happens long before a rescue, elevating the role of lifeguards as professional risk managers and educators, a perspective long held in Hawaiʻi. In the interview, Drasko stressed the urgent need to modernize water safety messaging. Traditional signs and warnings alone are no longer effective, particularly in visitor-heavy destinations like Hawaiʻi. He advocates for human-centered, digital storytelling that uses authentic lifeguard voices to cut through modern noise and connect emotionally with the public. The conversation also highlighted the importance of global collaboration, linking Hawaiʻi with water safety leaders in California, Australia, the UK, and beyond. The guiding philosophy of The Lifeguard Project, “By Lifeguards, For Life,”  reflects a belief that the most effective drowning prevention strategies are shaped by those closest to the water and strengthened through shared knowledge worldwide. Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety

Episode Notes January 14, 2026. George Centeio works with the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education as an Educational Specialist for Physical Education, supporting schools across the state in helping students build healthy, active lives. His work connects physical education, student well-being, and real-world safety, especially important in a place like Hawaiʻi, where water is part of everyday life. In this conversation, we talk about how education, particularly physical education, can help keep Hawaiʻi’s keiki safer in and around the water. It’s a discussion grounded in the reality of growing up surrounded by ocean, rivers, and pools, and why water awareness is truly a life skill here. George explains why water safety is about much more than swimming lessons. It’s about understanding conditions, recognizing risk, knowing your limits, and learning how to respond when something goes wrong. These are skills that build confidence, not fear—and when they’re taught early and reinforced over time, they can prevent tragedies. We also explore how schools can play a meaningful role by weaving water safety into education standards and everyday learning. Physical education offers a natural place for these lessons, especially when schools partner with lifeguards, community groups, and programs like Nā Kama Kai on the west side of Oʻahu, bringing learning out of the classroom and into real environments. The takeaway is hopeful and clear: drowning is preventable, and education is one of our strongest tools. By starting early, working together, and connecting learning to life in Hawaiʻi, we can better prepare our keiki to enjoy the water safely and create a stronger culture of water safety for everyone. Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety

Episode Notes January 13, 2026. This show brings the conversation home to Kauaʻi. Iʻm honored to be joined by four professional female lifeguards who protect our islandʻs beaches every day: Sanoe Hookano, Lei Deguchi, Lemon Holliday, and Aarya DeBaldo. Each of these women brings deep local knowledge, strong ocean skills, and constant vigilance to their work on the tower. They read conditions, watch people, and make decisions that prevent emergencies long before a whistle is blown or a rescue is needed. Femal lifeguards like Sanoe, Lei, Lemon and Aarya are an essential part of water safety on Kauaʻi. They are often the first point of connections for families, visitors, keiki, and kūpuna, offering calm guidance, clear warnings, and reassurance in a powerful ocean environment. Weʻll hear directly from the about what they see on our beaches, how they approach prevention, and what they want the public to understand about staying safe in Kauaʻi waters. Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety

Episode Notes October 23, 2025 Adrian Mayhew brings insight into the latest research and applied physiology in flood rescue, technical rescue, and water safety management. He is deeply involved in bridging operational lifesaving practices with research and evidence-based training across international contexts. Working with Mike Tipton on “lab to lifesaving” has made an impact worldwide. Adrian says Drowning is a global issue; we need legislation, manufacturing, and clear messaging. Drowning data is just the tip of the iceberg. There is a need to collect non-fatal drownings worldwide. His research is insightful, and as he says,” By creating what will be the International Lifesaving Federation, there will be one standard approach: everyone is trained the same, everyone has the same PPE, and everyone knows the terminology and training skills. This will mean for the first time globally we as a world can do good things when the bad things happen”. Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety

Episode Notes July 18, 2025: Professor Mike Tipton MBE is a Professor of Human & Applied Physiology at the Extreme Environments Laboratory, School of Sport, Health & Exercise Science at the University of Portsmouth in the UK. He was kind enough to speak with us about the physiology of drowning. This is a hard interview to hear, but oh so important as we take on the topic of water safety. Check out this video on the Float to Live project. Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety

Episode Notes November 21, 2025 Kalani Vierra is the Chief of the Kaua‘i Ocean Safety Bureau and one of Hawai‘i’s most respected and accomplished watermen. Kalani is internationally recognized for his expertise in rescue watercraft (jet ski) operations, and he has trained lifeguards across Hawai‘i and internationally in advanced ocean-rescue techniques. His leadership has shaped how lifeguards respond to emergencies on Kaua‘i’s beaches. Kalani also serves as President of the Hawai‘i Lifeguard Association (HLA), where he helpsguide statewide standards, training, and public-safety initiatives. He was instrumental in the development and growth of the Junior Lifeguard Program, which has become one ofHawai‘i’s most successful youth ocean-safety initiatives. Under his leadership and mentorship, Kaua‘i’s Junior Lifeguards have won multiple state championships. Kalani is also an author of a childrenʻs book, The Hawaii Lifeguard. Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety

Episode Notes October 5, 2025 Dr. Angel Yanagihara is a leading biochemist and toxinologist internationally recognized for her groundbreaking work on venomous marine invertebrates—particularly the box jellyfish (Alatina alata) and bluebottle (Physalia physalis). Based at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, she is an associate researcher at the Pacific Biosciences Research Center and directs the Pacific Cnidaria Research Laboratory. Her research dispels long-held myths about jellyfish stings and establishes evidence-based first aid protocols grounded in cellular and biochemical science. Working in partnership with the U.S. military, Dr. Yanagihara developed Sting No More®, a first-aid product line that neutralizes jellyfish venom and is now used globally in marine safety operations. A global leader in cnidarian envenomation science, Dr. Yanagihara’s research has shaped protocols for beach management, lifeguard response, and swimmer safety worldwide. Her real-life contributions to open-water safety were featured in the 2023 Netflix film Nyad, in which she was represented as part of the scientific and medical support team ensuring Diana Nyad’s successful Cuba-to-Florida crossing. Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety

Episode Notes September 23, 2025 Kaina Makua is a kalo farmer, cultural practitioner, educator, and actor from Waimea, Kauaʻi. He is a cofounder and executive director of Kumano I Ke Ala which uplifts Hawaiian youth through ʻāina -based education. He operates Aloha ʻĀina Poi Co. which distributes thousands of poi annually revitalizing kalo farming and strengthening cultural food security. In addition to his farming and education work, Kaina Makua plays King Kamehameha in the Apple TV+ series Chief of War. He has some insightful words about water safety and the strengthening Hawaiian culture.

Episode Notes Bruce Hopkins, head lifeguard at Bondi Beach in Australia. A media personality as well as award-winning lifeguard, Bruce has appeared in 18 seasons of the Australian TV show “Bondi Rescue”. He talks to us today about effective swimming, but even more importantly, effective floating. He also brings an interesting perspective to experiencing rip currents.