At least two California surfers died in January 2006. Michelle Housego drowned on 1/15/06 in Santa Barbara after her leash pinned her to rocks underwater. The other tragedy happened exactly a week later in our own front yard on 1/22/06, when Sean Fahey died while surfing Ocean Beach in San Francisco. These sad events highlight the importance of water safety. Please consider attending this not-for-profit class. Taking a day out of your busy life to learn some of these simple-yet-powerful life rescue techniques could help keep you out of danger- and possibly enable you to save someone's life.

SurfPulse Surf Rescue & CPR (1-Day Class)
Learn basic life saving techniques for use on land and in the ocean. HMB Fire Department will teach American Heart Association’s 2-3 hour “CPR for Family and Friends”. Class description is below. Students will learn hands-on ocean rescue techniques from professional rescuers of HMB Fire Dept. Surf Rescue, Pillar Pont Harbor, and K38 Water Safety. These experts have done many water rescues along the San Mateo County coastline, including the huge surf at Maverick’s. The 2-3 hour water portion of the class is tailored to surfers, but all ocean enthusiasts are invited. Most of the water techniques will be done in calm water, but advanced students may get to venture out with instructors into the surf as time and surf conditions permit. Participants must be good swimmers and wear a winter wetsuit in the water. (Your thickest winter wetsuit, booties, hood, and even gloves are recommended. You won't be moving as much as when you're surfing, so trust us- and pile on the neoprene). Pre-registration is required.

Additional Information:

For information about registration for the class, contact Half Moon Bay Parks & Recreation Dept. at 535 Kelly Ave, HMB, CA or call (650) 726-8297.

For more information about details of the class itself, contact SurfPulse.

CPR for Family and Friends
Class description from http://www.americanheart.org.

Course Description
The CPR for Family and Friends awareness program is modular and teaches rescuers skills in CPR and relief of choking (foreign-body airway obstruction). It presents information about the American Heart Association adult Chain of Survival and signs of heart attack, cardiac arrest, stroke and choking in adults. The course also presents information on the American Heart Association pediatric infant and child Chain of Survival, signs of choking in infants and children, how to reduce risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and prevention of the most common fatal injuries in infants and children.

Course Length

• Adult: 2 1/3 hours

Intended Audience
All lay rescuers, such as schoolchildren, family members of patients at risk for sudden cardiac death, and other laypersons who want to learn rescue skills for loved ones.

Student Materials

• CPR for Family and Friends Text, Required

Instructor Materials

• BLS Instructor's Manual
• CPR for Family and Friends Video Set

Card Type:

• Course attendance card (in book). Note from SurfPulse: This class does NOT include CPR certification. However, it is possible to get certification by continuing the CPR portion of the class into the afternoon, which unfortunately would mean you couldn't attend the surf rescue portion of the class. Contact Parks & Rec at least 1 day prior to class if you'd like to receive CPR certification. In which case, the certifcation will probably cost slightly more- approximately $57/person.

Written/Skills Exam:

• None

SurfPulse was originally offering a selection of the following classes this February, but the 2-day wilderness first aid course has been postponed- probably until this spring or summer. Contact SurfPulse if you'd like to be notified when this class will be offered again.

• 1-Day Surf Rescue & CPR,
• 2-Day Wilderness First Aid (geared towards surfers and ocean environments), and
• 3-Day Course, which includes both classes!

Details of each class are below.