B. Chris Brewster
B. Chris Brewster is President of the United States Lifesaving Association, America's non-profit, professional association of beach lifeguards and open water rescuers. He is also President of the Americas Region and Vice-President of the International Life Saving Federation where he oversees International Life Saving Federation activities throughout the Western Hemisphere (including North, Central, South America, the Caribbean, and Hawaii).
He was also the Commissioner of Lifesaving of the International Life Saving Federation that includes the Rescue Committee, Development Committee, World Drowning Report Committee, Education Committee, and Medical Committee. He was also awarded one of the prestigious Paragon Awards for water safety at the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2010.
Brewster is also a retired Lifeguard Chief of the San Diego Lifeguard Service and Harbormaster of Mission Bay where he oversaw 240 employees and an annual budget of US$10 million. He was Co-Founder and Member of the United States Lifeguard Standards Coalition, a collaborative effort of the American Red Cross, United States Lifesaving Association and YMCA of the USA that seeks to research, identify and promote evidence-based standards for lifeguarding. He was Chairman of the National Certification Committee of the United States Lifesaving Association that sets national standards for lifeguards and lifeguard organizations where he helped developed the first national certification program covering both inland and surf beaches. He was the International Life Saving Federation Liaison to the World Congress on Drowning 2002 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
As Chairman of the Textbook Committee of the United States Lifesaving Association, he helped develop The United States Lifesaving Association Manual of Open Water Lifesaving. He was President of the California Surf Lifesaving Association that includes beach lifesavers from Hawaii, California, and Arizona.
Publications
- Co-Author, Aquatic Safety Assessment & Recommendations for Brevard County, Florida (March 2008)
- Co-Author, Aquatic Safety Assessment & Recommendations for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (February 2008)
- Contributor, Preventing Disease Through Healthy Environments, World Health Organization (2006)
- Contributor, Guidelines for Safe Recreational Water Environments, Volume 2, Swimming Pools and Similar Environments, World Health Organization (2006)
- Contributor, Encyclopedia of Coastal Science, Schwartz (Ed.), Springer (2005)
- Editor, Open Water Lifesaving – The United States Lifesaving Association Manual (2003)
- Primary Author, Warning Flags, a Position Statement of the United States Lifesaving Association (2002)
- Primary Author, Shark Bite Prevention and Response, a Position Statement of the United Sates Lifesaving Association (2002)
- Contributor, Lifeguard Effectiveness – A Report of a Working Group, Branch, CM, Stewart S. (Eds.), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (2001)
- Contributor, Guidelines for Safe Recreational Water Environments, Volume 1, Coastal and Fresh Waters, World Health Organization (2003)
- Author, California Boating Safety Act of 1999 (Assembly Bill 1287)
- Editor, The United States Lifesaving Association Manual of Open Water Lifesaving (1995)
- Editor, Guidelines for Open Water Lifeguard Training and Standards (1993)
- Editor, Guidelines for Training and Standards of Aquatic Rescue Response Teams (1996)
- Editor, International Medical-Rescue Conference Proceedings, International Life Saving Federation (1997)
- Editor, United States Lifesaving Association Website (USLA.ORG) (1997 – 2004)
- Editor, International Life Saving Federation World Wide Web Site (ILSF.ORG) (1999 – 2004)
- Contributing Author, Better Beaches - Management of Safe and Enjoyable Swimming Beaches; Griffiths (Ed.) (1999)
- Writer and Narrator, You're the Lifeguard, televised public service announcement (1996, 2000)
- Managing Editor, US Lifesaving Magazine 1982 - 1983
- Articles and Letters, New York Newsday, Aquatics International, Emergency Magazine, Fire Rescue, American Lifeguard Magazine, and others
Selected Lectures and Presentations
- International Life Saving Strategies, National Drowning Prevention Alliance, Orange County, California (March 2008)
- American Lifesaving, International Life Saving Conference, Geelong, Australia (February 2006)
- Congreso Inernacional de Salvamento Acuatico, YMCA of Caracas, Vargas State, Venezuela (October 2004)
- International Scientific Conference, Voluntary Water Rescue Service In Uniting Europe, Polish Lifesaving Federation, Sondomierz, Poland (October 2004)
- Congressi Internazionali (Co-Chair, Modern Techniques of Water Accident Prevention and Rescue; Presenter, Specialized Rescue Equipment: Jet Ski), Viareggio, Italy (September 2004)
- International Lifesaving Symposium, Duetsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft (German Lifesaving Federation), Bad Nenndorf, Germany (October 2003)
- Reducing Childhood Drowning through Timely and Effective Rescue, Water Safety and the Prevention of Childhood Unintentional Drowning Injuries, Hellenic Society for Social Pediatrics and Health Promotion, Athens, Greece (May 2003)
- Shark Attacks – A Lifeguard’s View, A Sea Grant and University of Florida conference (June 2002)
- Sharks and the Media – Chair of a Panel Discussion, United States Lifesaving Association Educational Conference, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (November 2001)
- After Hours Response Teams – Member of a Discussion Panel, United States Lifesaving Association Educational Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (May 2001)
- International Conference on Safety in Transportation, Telese Terme, Italy (February 2001)
- Congress on Water Safety: Santander, Spain (December 1999)
- Monterey County Beach Safety Forum (keynote speaker): Monterey, California (October 1999)
- Project Wipeout: Orange County, California (June 1999)
- California Parks Conference: San Mateo, California (March 1999)
- National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, San Diego (September 1998)
- Congreso Internacional de Salvamento Acuatico II: Mar del Plata, Argentina (October 1997)
- Master of Ceremonies, International Boating and Water Safety Summit (April 1997)
- Congreso Internacional de Salvamento Acuatico: Buenos Aires, Argentina (October 1996)
- World Congress for Safety of Life at Sea: Genoa, Italy (April 1996)
- Signs of the Times, A Beach Signage Workshop: Honolulu, Hawaii (April 1995)
- Symposium on Beach Lifeguarding, Royal Life Saving Society: London, England (March 1994)
- National Recreation & Park Assn, National Pool & Aquatic Conference: Mesa, Arizona (February 1994)
- National Recreation & Park Assn, Congress for Recreation & Parks: San Jose, California (October 1993)
