Mutual Aid Pact for Lifeguards OKd by County
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SAN DIEGO — The Board of Supervisors has approved a mutual aid agreement to help speed lifeguards to the scene of trouble.
The agreement approved Tuesday orders city, county and state rescue teams to respond automatically to emergencies outside their jurisdictions when such aid is requested.
“This thing needed to be done so badly,” said Chris Brewster, spokesman for the San Diego Lifesaving Assn.
He said lifeguards have been “incredibly frustrated” at their inability to coordinate with officials from other jurisdictions.
The mutual aid pact will rely on a radio paging system that will simultaneously alert all agencies of an emergency situation requiring outside assistance.
Supervisor Susan Golding, who proposed the formation of the coastal emergency task force that authored the plan, said two drownings of surfers inspired her concern about coastal safety agencies’ ability to handle major emergencies.
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