Happy 10th Anniversary to Ecuador’s Rescate Acuatico! Drowning rates fell an astonishing 30.6% from 2011 to 2017. Hundreds of lives have been saved and Ecuador’s Lifeguards continue to make rescues every day. Congratulation Ecuador for prioritizing Drowning Prevention and changing Public Policy a decade before the United Nations Global Drowning Prevention resolution!
31.6% reduction in Drowning Rates
Project Ecuador: November, 2006 — October, 2011.
Project Ecuador’s work is complete. Ecuador has a national lifeguard agency, Rescate Acuatico. Lifeguards are now public safety professionals. We are truly grateful for Ecuador’s leaders who took this step forward to continue the aquatic safety program developed by Project Ecuador.
We are respectful of Ecuador’s sovereign abilities and we have ended the annual Carnival humanitarian missions. We will remain in close contact with our friends and will be ready to respond if additional help is requested. Long Beach - Manta Sister Cities will continue to sponsor lifeguards in Ecuador via this established diplomatic channel with Fundacion Salvares.
Photo: Ecuador Consul General in Los Angeles, Eddie Bedon and Project Ecuador Founder, Paul Dunning
On October 25, 2011, the Secretaria Nacional de Gestion de Riesgos (SNR) announced a new program called Project Safe Beaches to institutionalize lifeguards in all coastal Provinces. Rescate Acuatico will oversee the project and has a 2 year, $400,000 budget for rescue equipment, rescue boats, training and infrastructure development. Rescate Acuatico will certify the lifeguards to be eligible to be hired by the local municipalities. Only certified lifeguards can work on the beach. Municipalities are now required to create a budget for lifeguards and will oversee wage administration.
I am very proud to see our hard work transform into public policy. I am also excited to see the lifeguards receiving certification from a government entity (vs. Americans) to validate their effectiveness. Lastly, our grass roots effort to have Cities pay for lifeguards is already in effect in Playas, Montanita, Manta and Esmeraldas allowing for an easy transition to follow the new law. Sustained professional lifeguard operations have been created and the long term outlook is very promising.
The Ministry of Tourism has a HUGE advertisement banner covering a 15 story building near Los Angeles International Airport. Everyone traveling on the southbound 405 freeway couldn’t miss this monster poster. It says:
“I DISCOVERED 9 MILES OF WILD SURF ON ONE BEACH IN ECUADOR”
The “ONE” beach is Playas that stretches from the city’s northern bluffs 9 miles south to Data Posorja. This is a great vote of confidence to a
dvertise Ecuador’s lifeguard operations in Playas! Visit Ecuador! The beaches are safe!!
Project Ecuador collaborates with Spanish and Brazilian lifeguard leaders to formalize a national lifeguard agency.
Chris Brewster, President for the Americas Region and Vice President, International Life Saving Federation was informed that Luis Smorris of Spain / Canary Islands and Dr. David Szpilman of Brazil (Fundou a Sociedade Brasileira de Salvamento Aquático - SOBRASA) were hired by the SNR to implement policies and procedures for a new national lifeguard agency, Rescate Acuatico.
Paul Dunning collaborated with these experienced lifeguard leaders and shared all acquired knowledge to help them succeed. Project Ecuador will 
stand by while Szpilman and Smorris complete their work to help Ecuador.
Project Ecuador began in Playas and they now have an elite group of 15 lifeguards with the longest history of support from City Hall. Mayor Michael Achi has full time lifeguards on the payroll. A great significance is the history of EC lifeguards. Playas was led by Jason Hudson from North Carolina Corolla Beach. Playas is one of the most crowded beaches in the world and probably most dangerous because of the surf. Jason was joined by Newport Beach Lifeguard Flavia McBride, Corolla Beach Lifeguard Katie Harm, LA County Lifeguard, Randal Fenderson and Ecuadorian Andres Salmimento, plus volunteer Henry Reyes and Julia Sanchez.
Playas Lifeguards in new uniforms pose for a group photo before a recent parade.
These guys look great! Salvavidas del Ecuador!!
For the first year, Project Ecuador volunteers helped Salinas and the Mayor welcomed our volunteers with a public ceremony showing unity in our efforts. Director Gabriela Munoz Ocana and her brother, Miguel Munoz helped organize our mission in this region.
Lifeguards without Borders from Jacksonville Beach, Florida, led this region with Matt Duffy at the helm along with Dr. Justin Sempsrott stateside. Matt was joined by 13 fellow JAX guards, Gust Hapsis, Chris Saggau, Casey Donnell, James Lentz, Michel Schindler, Taylor Anderson, Bill Posch, Alex McKellop, Duncan Campbell, Eli Phillips, Josh Langley, Erica Moyer and Rosan Patel. Photographer Mike Bradshaw joined this team for his 2nd year covering our mission. The Salinas Fire Dept. lifeguards collaborated with Project Ecuador to help 4 beaches, one that was previously closed due to recent drownings. JAX guards made a major multiple rescue at this dangerous beach restoring confidence to tourists. A second group of 6 Santa Barbara lifeguards helped the elite Montanita group of 21 lifeguards trained and certified by PE Director Rodney Williamson.
Photo: Reception by Salinas Mayor Paul Borbon with Gabriela Munoz Ocana, EC lifeguards and USA lifeguards from Jacksonville, FL - Lifeguards without Borders.
Manta, the tuna capital of South America, was led by LA County Lifeguard veteran Bill White. He was instrumental in working with the SNR and Recate Acuatico to secure our mission’s goals along with PE Director Gabriela Munoz Ocana. Bill worked with Fundacion Salvares, the new national lifeguard association and SRN to volunteer at Murcielago and Santa Marianita. Fundacion Salvares is the new organizational counterpart to Long Beach-Manta Sister Cities. The hospitality was exceptional by our host city and we received continued support by Mayor Jaime Estrada.
Bill White was joined by Pismo Beach lifeguards, Megan Grose and Rob McCain, Hilton Head, South Carolina Lifeguards, Steven House and from San Diego Lifeguards, Chris Olivas.
Manta Lifeguards representing Fundacion Salvares in photo.
Our newest “Green City” was led by PE Director Rodney Williamson and the team was treated as honored guests by the Mayor and Ministry of Tourism. The hospitality was exceptional and the volunteers were treated to dinners, parades and television appearances. LA County veteran Bruce Moncrief joined 6 Newport Beach Lifeguards, Greg Nadal, Bret Winners, Greg Meyer, Paul Collier, Mike Newmaster and Justin Skaggs to train 16 lifeguards from Esmeraldas and Atacames. Monica Williamson also helped the team.
Photos: Bus ride to Mompiche for pre-Carnival training. USA volunteers with Esmeraldas Mayor Ernesto Estupinan
We had a fantastic mission! Over 600,000 tourists went to the beach during Carnival. Project Ecuador’s largest volunteer team of 45 American ocean lifeguards worked along side 150 Ecuadorian lifeguards and did an exceptional job. The result was no drownings during the 4 day holiday on the 15 supported beaches in 4 Provinces. EC and USA lifeguards made over 252 rescues and over 2,000 preventions.
Ecuador has exhibited strong support of our water safety goals and all regions report gracious hospitality by our host cities. Multiple government agencies worked together to provided support to the Ecuadorian lifeguards including rescue boat operations, beach vehicles and victim transport services. Ecuador has sustained lifeguard operations.
More reports to follow on each region.