Many research works and papers on lifeguarding have been written over the years. Some of these are made available by clicking on the titles below to download a file.

The United States Lifesaving Association thanks the contributors for making their works available for general distribution.

•  Annual Report USLA 2003 - 2004
  The United States Lifesaving Association's Annual Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004.
•  Annual Report USLA 2004 - 2005
  The United States Lifesaving Association's Annual Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005.
•  Annual Report USLA 2005 - 2006
  The United States Lifesaving Association's Annual Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006.
•  Annual Report USLA 2008
  USLA's Annual report on activities and finances for calendar year 2008.
•  Annual Report USLA 2009
  The United States Lifesaving Association's Annual Report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009.
•  Archives USLA 1964
  Archives of USLA documents from our first year of existence as the Surf Life Saving Association of America (SLSA). (1.5 MB)
•  Archives USLA 1965
  Archives of USLA documents from our second year of existence. Mid-year, the organization's name changed to the National Surf Life Saving Association of America. (1.4 MB)
•  Archives USLA 1966 - Part 1
  Archives of documents from the first half of 1966 for the National Surf Life Saving Association of America. (1.9 MB)
• Archives USLA 1966 - Part 2
  Archives of documents from the second half of 1966 for the National Surf Life Saving Association of America. (1.7 MB)
• Archives USLA 1967 - Part 1
  Archives of documents from the first half of 1967 for the National Surf Life Saving Association of America, including a 15 page report on a tour of Australia and New Zealand. (1.8 MB)
• Archives USLA 1967 - Part 2
  Archives of documents from the second half of 1967 for the National Surf Life Saving Association of America. Founding President Bob Burnside passes the gavel to Mike Henry. (1.4 MB)
• Breaux v. Miami Beach
  Florida Supreme Court: "We hold that based on the undisputed facts, the City controls the beach area and was operating a public swimming area at the 29th Street location at the time of the accident. Thus, the City had a duty of care to warn of dangers that were known or should have been known, and is not shielded from liability as a matter of law based on sovereign immunity."
• Brevard County Aquatic Safety Assessment
  A report with an assessment and recommendations by Joe McManus, Jerry Storrs, and B. Chris Brewster issued March 4, 2008.
• Communicable Disease Avoidance for Lifeguards
  Methods of protecting yourself written by a Centers for Disease Control staff member and former ocean lifeguard. (Dobbins September 1997)
• Drowning Definition—WHO
  Updated definition of "drowning" from the World Health Organization.
• Drowning Facts—World Health Organization
  Facts about drowning worldwide. (2003)
• Evaluating Near-Drowning and Drowning Victims
  A study on classifying the severity of victims and determining the best care by the lifeguard by the President of the Brazilian Lifesaving Society Dr. David Szpilman. September 1997
• Flag Warning Standards—ILS
  International beach flag warning standards as adopted by the International Life Saving Federation. (2004)
• Flood and River Rescue in San Diego
  An overview of the San Diego Lifeguard River Rescue Team by team member Sgt. John Greenhalgh. September 1997.
• Guidelines for Establishing Open-Water Recreational Beach Standards
  Proceedings of a conference held in 1980 in Galveston Texas which are the basis for the United States Lifesaving Association Guidelines for Open Water Lifeguard Agency Certification. Edited by James M. McCloy and James A. Dodson. Reproduced by permission.
• Guidelines for Safe Recreational Water Environments
  World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines (2003)
• Heimlich Letter (USLA) and Reply (H. Heimlich)
  A letter from USLA Medical Advisor Peter Wernicki M.D. to Dr. Henry Heimlich and the reply of Dr. Heimlich.
• Heimlich Maneuver for Drowning
  An article was originally intended for publication in Funworld magazine which discusses the efficacy of the Heimlich maneuver for drowning victims. Author Pamela Mills-Senn. March 30, 2000
• International Life Saving Federation Abdominal Thrust Statement
  Developed by the International Life Saving Federation Medical Commission to address lifeguard questions about the value of using abdominal thrust to revive drowning/near drowning victims. (September 1998)
• International Life Saving Federation Automatic External Defibrillator Statement
  Developed by the International Life Saving Federation Medical Commission to address the use of automatic external defibrillators (AED) by lifeguards. (September 1999)
• International Life Saving Federation Communicable Disease Statement
  Developed by the International Life Saving Federation Medical Commission to address methods lifeguards should use to protect themselves from communicable diseases. (September 1999)
• International Life Saving Federation Sun Protection Statement
  Developed by the International Life Saving Federation Medical Commission in September 1998 to address the need for and recommended methods of protecting lifeguards from the sun. (September 1998)
• Jellyfish Sting Management
  Recommended treatment of jellyfish stings based on evidence-based studies, published by the Australian Resuscitation Council. (July 2010)
• Lifeguard Effectiveness: A Report of the Working Group
  A report of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's efforts to quantify the effectiveness and value of providing lifeguard protection. (2001)
• Lifeguard Skin Cancer Protection
  Methods of protecting lifeguards and promoting lifeguard image successfully employed by the San Diego Lifeguard Service. (Brewster - September 1997)
• Lifeguard Standards Coalition Report
  The first evidence-based recommendations of the United States Lifeguard Standards Coalition (USLSC), a project sponsored by the American Red Cross, the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA), and the YMCA of the USA. (January 2011)
• Open Water Swimming Event Safety Guidelines
  Recommended minimum guidelines for open water swimming event safety. These guidelines, approved by the USLA Board of Directors May 7, 2005, are intended to assist those overseeing safety at open water swimming events in developing and implementing measures to ensure appropriate levels of safety.
• Pompano Beach Ocean Rescue Strategic Plan
  Recommendations and justification for drowning prevention through enhanced lifeguard protection levels, authored by Pompano Beach Fire Rescue Division Chief Michael Hohl. (December 2010)
• Puerto Rico Aquatic Safety Report
  A report by B. Chris Brewster, Joe McManus, Jim McCrady, and Gio Serrano with recommendations to improve beach safety in Puerto Rico.
• Recognition and Observation of Potential Rescue Victims in an Open Water Environment
  Former USLA President William Richardson. September 1997
• Rescue 2010 Brochure
  Brochure for the World Lifesaving Championships, Alexandria, Egypt, October 2010
• Rescue and Resuscitation in the South African Surf Zone
  Efficacy of the South African lifesaver and current challenges by the Provincial Medical Officer of SLSA Dr. Glen Hagemann. September 1997
• Rip Current Awareness Program Assessment - South Carolina
  Assessment of the South Carolina Sea Grant Extention Program's rip current awareness program. March 2011
• Shark Bite Prevention and Response Position Statement
  USLA's official position on how lifeguards should help prevent and respond to these incidents. (USLA 2002)
• Sunscreen Regulations
  New U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations for sunscreens. May 1999
• Surgeon General Speech USLA November 2004
  Transcript of a speech by Surgeon General Richard Carmona to the United States Lifesaving Association Board of Directors - November 4, 2004
• Training and Equipment Guidelines for Rescuers Using Personal Watercraft as a Rescue Tool
  USLA recommended minimum standards for the training and equipping of personnel employing personal watercraft as a rescue tool