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  • Deep Dive: Brook and Zane Silvester

    Deep Dive: Brook and Zane Silvester
    2026/06/25
    Episode Notes ** Eyes for Lives: Building the Next Generation of First Nations Lifeguards What if one of the most effective ways to prevent drowning is not a new rescue technique, but helping people reconnect with culture, community, and the ocean? In this episode of Deep Dive Into Water Safety, Bundjalung Saltwater People Brook Silvester and his son Zane join the program to discuss the work they are doing to create new pathways into water safety for Indigenous youth on Australia's Gold Coast. Among many coastal First Nations communities in Australia, Saltwater People are those whose identity, culture, stories, food sources, travel routes, and responsibilities are closely tied to the sea and waterways. Knowledge of currents, tides, weather, fishing grounds, and safe movement through the water has traditionally been passed from one generation to the next. Brook is the founder of First Nations Lifeguards and Bombora Surf School. He brings more than four decades of experience in and around the ocean as a surfer, water cinematographer, surf coach, and lifeguard. Many people will also recognize Brook's work behind the camera on Bondi Rescue, where he spent more than 11 years filming rescues and working alongside some of Australia's most experienced lifeguards, including Bruce "Hoppo" Hopkins. Brook credits those experiences, and Hoppo's mentorship, with helping shape his approach to water safety one that focuses not only on rescue, but on prevention, education, trust, and community connection. Zane is a professional sponsored surfer, surf coach, lifeguard, and proud Bundjalung man who is helping carry that work forward. He understands the importance of being visible to young Indigenous people who may never have seen someone from their community working in those roles. The conversation centers on the First Nations Lifeguards Academy, the Eyes for Lives pathway, and Bombora Surf School. While these programs teach swimming, surfing, ocean awareness, hazard recognition, and lifesaving skills, they are really about something much bigger. They are about confidence, identity, leadership, and connection. For Saltwater People, the ocean is not simply a place for recreation. It is connected to culture, family, story, responsibility, and knowledge that has been passed from one generation to the next for thousands of years. Brook and Zane explain how reconnecting young people to that knowledge can also help create safer relationships with the water. At the center of that work is Eyes for Lives, a pathway that helps young people develop water confidence, environmental awareness, leadership skills, and a sense of belonging before moving toward lifeguard qualifications and employment opportunities. The goal is not simply to create lifeguards. It is to create future leaders. Brook also shares the story behind the name Bombora Surf School. A bombora is an offshore reef or submerged rock formation that can create powerful breaking waves. Like the ocean environments that inspired its name, the school emphasizes awareness, respect, and learning how to read the water safely. While Bombora Surf School has only been operating for about a year, the knowledge, values, and connection to the water that guide its programs have been passed from generation to generation for thousands of years. The discussion also explores Bombora Surf School's commitment to inclusion through adaptive and all-abilities surfing programs. Participants living with disabilities are supported through adaptive equipment, beach wheelchairs, and trained instructors. For Brook and Zane, inclusion is not a separate initiative. It is simply part of ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to experience the ocean safely and confidently. A recurring theme throughout the conversation is the importance of representation. When young people see someone who looks like them, shares their culture, and understands their experiences working as a lifeguard, surf coach, or ocean leader, it helps them believe those opportunities are available to them as well. For listeners in Hawaiʻi, there is a great deal to consider. Many conversations about water safety focus on hazards, warnings, and risk. Brook and Zane challenge us to think about connection, belonging, culture, and community as important parts of keeping people safe around the water. Both Brook and Zane expressed enthusiasm for future collaboration between First Nations communities in Australia and Indigenous communities in Hawaiʻi. The discussion explored how lifeguards, educators, and community leaders from both regions can learn from one another while strengthening water safety through shared knowledge, cultural understanding, and ocean stewardship. Throughout the conversation, Brook and Zane make the case that water safety starts long before a rescue ever happens. It starts with helping people build a relationship with the ocean, understand the environment, and feel like they belong there. Their message is simple: ...
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    58 分
  • Deep Dive: An Interview with Dr David Szpilman

    Deep Dive: An Interview with Dr David Szpilman
    2026/06/22
    Episode Notes

    June 4, 2026: Dr David Szpilman: Drowning Is Preventable: What if one of the biggest barriers to preventing drowning isn't a lack of rescue skills, but how we think about drowning itself?

    Physician, researcher, and drowning prevention pioneer Dr. David Szpilman joins Deep Dive Into Water Safety to discuss the science, data, and lifesaving strategies that have helped reshape drowning prevention around the world and what Hawaiʻi can learn from them.

    Dr. David Szpilman is a physician, founder of SOBRASA (the Brazilian Lifesaving Society), creator of the internationally recognized Szpilman Drowning Classification System, and one of the world's leading voices in drowning prevention. In this episode of Deep Dive Into Water Safety, Dr. Szpilman discusses why drowning should be viewed as a preventable process rather than an unavoidable accident. He explains the importance of using consistent terminology, including moving away from outdated terms such as 'near drowning,' to improve data collection, treatment, and prevention efforts worldwide.

    The conversation explores the drowning timeline, the Drowning Chain of Survival, and the critical role ventilation plays in drowning resuscitation. Dr. Szpilman shares research demonstrating how quickly respiratory arrest can progress to cardiac arrest and discusses recent guidance emphasizing the importance of ventilation in drowning response. The discussion also examines the gap between research and frontline lifeguard operations, highlighting the need for better incident reporting and more detailed data to guide prevention strategies. Dr. Szpilman argues that collecting the right information is often more important than conducting more studies if communities hope to identify effective interventions.

    Other topics include water competency, adolescent and male risk-taking behavior, experiential water safety education, the role of lifeguards as first responders, and the challenges Hawaiʻi faces with visitor snorkeling fatalities. The conversation explores how targeted education, improved signage, better data systems, and stronger collaboration between researchers and practitioners can help reduce drowning deaths. Throughout the episode, Dr. Szpilman returns to a central message that has guided decades of work in Brazil and around the world:

    Drowning is preventable when we understand the risks, prepare people for the environment, and intervene before an emergency occurs.

    Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety
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    1 時間 22 分
  • Deep Dive: An Interview with Dr Will Koon

    Deep Dive: An Interview with Dr Will Koon
    2026/06/19
    Episode Notes

    June 1, 2026: Dr Will Koon: Beyond Warning Signs: Rethinking Drowning Prevention in Hawaiʻi

    Dr. Will Koon is a drowning prevention researcher with Royal Life Saving Australia whose work focuses on understanding who is drowning, why they are drowning, and how communities can reduce risk through better data and targeted interventions. He has been involved in Australia's National Water Safety Strategy and is part of a broader effort that has helped drive significant reductions in drowning over the past two decades.

    What makes Dr. Koon's perspective particularly valuable is his emphasis on systems thinking. Rather than focusing solely on hazards or education, he examines how data, behavior, policy, tourism, lifeguard services, and community partnerships work together to influence drowning risk. One of his central messages is that effective drowning prevention is not simply about warning people about hazards it is about preparing people and systems before they encounter risk.

    What If We've Been Asking the Wrong Question? For years, water safety efforts have focused on warning people about hazards. But a recent discussion with international experts suggests a different approach: instead of asking how we warn people, we should be asking how we prepare people and systems before they ever encounter risk. Effective prevention requires understanding who is drowning, where, when, and why, and then designing solutions that fit those specific risks.The Data Challenge. Another major theme was data. While Hawaiʻi's drowning rate is among the highest in the United States, participants noted that the numbers we typically discuss only tell part of the story. Non-fatal drowning incidents may outnumber fatal drownings many times over, yet these events are often poorly tracked despite their significant physical, emotional, and financial impacts. The discussion also highlighted a challenge unique to Hawaiʻi. Nearly half of drowning deaths involve visitors, and snorkeling fatalities are heavily concentrated among tourists.Drowning Is a Systems Problem. The group repeatedly returned to the idea that drowning is a systems problem, not simply an individual problem. Australia's progress in reducing childhood drownings has been attributed to multiple strategies working together: pool fencing, parent education, supervision campaigns, early water familiarization, public awareness, and policy changes.Building Water Competence. The discussion also examined Junior Lifeguard programs and water competence education.

    Creating a Culture of Safety. Experts suggested that meaningful progress may come not from more warnings but from creating social norms around safe behavior. Perhaps the most important takeaway was that drowning prevention is not primarily about responding to emergencies. It is about creating conditions that prevent emergencies from occurring in the first place. But the strongest lesson from this discussion is that drowning prevention begins long before anyone enters the water.

    The question is no longer:How do we teach water safety?The question is:How do we make water safety part of who we are, not just something we teach?

    Hawaiʻi is surrounded by water. The ocean is where we play, work, gather, celebrate, and connect. If that's true, then water safety can't be an add-on. It must become part of our culture.Because lasting change will not come from a single program, sign, or safety message.It will come when understanding the ocean, respecting its power, and making safe choices around water become part of everyday life in Hawaiʻi.

    Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety
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    1 時間 9 分
  • Deep Dive: An Interview with David and Tia Samuel

    Deep Dive: An Interview with David and Tia Samuel
    2026/05/29
    Episode Notes

    David and Tia Samuel

    In this episode of Deep Dive into Water Safety, Margaret Wright speaks with David and Tia Samuel from Brighton, England, about how surf lifesaving, family involvement, and early education are changing the way communities approach drowning prevention. David shares how Brighton Surf Life Saving Club grew into a major volunteer-driven organization and explains the success of their innovative “Sandhoppers” program, which teaches children ages 5–7 water confidence and safety skills alongside their parents.

    Tia discusses her journey from youth surf lifesaving to becoming an RNLI lifeguard, highlighting the importance of creating opportunities for young women in lifesaving and emergency response. The conversation explores CPR training, community response systems, school-based water safety education, and the need for stronger public messaging for residents and tourists.

    The episode also compares Hawaii’s ongoing drowning prevention challenges with successful international models from the UK, emphasizing that drowning is preventable through education, collaboration, and building a lifelong respect for the ocean. David and Tia bring practical ideas, real-world experience, and an inspiring perspective on how communities can create a stronger culture of water safety for future generations.

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    43 分
  • Deep Dive: An Interview with Robin Baird

    Deep Dive: An Interview with Robin Baird
    2026/05/25
    Episode Notes

    March 3, 2026: Robin Baird, PhD Marine Mammal Researcher

    Robin Baird is a marine biologist with the Cascadia Research Collective who has been studying dolphins and whales in Hawaiian waters since 1999. During this interview, he discussed how little scientific information previously existed about many nearshore species in Hawaiʻi and how long‑term research has helped improve understanding of marine mammal populations, behavior, and conservation needs. The interview explored human impacts on marine mammals and how people can interact responsibly with wildlife in the ocean.

    He has authored The Lives of Hawai'is Dolphins and Whales natural History and Conservation

    The conversation explored how marine mammals are studied, the pressures they face from human activity, and how ocean users including paddlers, swimmers, and tour operators can interact responsibly with wildlife. The interview also highlighted the importance of translating scientific knowledge into practical awareness for the public.

    Human Impacts on Marine Mammals

    · Boat traffic and vessel disturbance.

    · Noise pollution in the ocean environment.

    · Fishing interactions and entanglement risks.

    · Increasing human activity in nearshore habitats.

    Responsible Ocean Behavior

    · Maintain respectful distances from dolphins and whales.

    · Avoid chasing or attempting to closely approach marine mammals.

    · Allow animals to control the interaction if they approach.

    · Follow federal marine mammal protection guidelines.

    Key Takeaways

    · Long‑term research is essential to understanding Hawaiian marine mammal populations.

    · Human behavior in the ocean can significantly affect wildlife.

    · Public awareness and education are critical for conservation.**

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    1 時間 2 分
  • Deep Dive: An Interview with Dr Hanna Van Waart

    Deep Dive: An Interview with Dr Hanna Van Waart
    2026/05/22
    Episode Notes Research, CPSC Warning, and Manufacturer Responsibility Hanna Van Waart PhD Exercise Physiologist at the University of Aukland discussed full face mask safety, her research and manufacturer’s responsibility The research article, “Full-face snorkel masks increase the incidence of hypoxemia and hypercapnia during simulated snorkeling compared to conventional snorkels,” was published in Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine in December 2023. The study was led by Janneke Grundemann, with coauthors Xavier C.E. Vrijdag, Nicole Y.E. Wong, Nicholas Gant, Simon J. Mitchell, and Hanna van Waart. Hanna van Waart is affiliated with the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Auckland. The research team examined whether full-face snorkel masks increase the risk of rebreathing, elevated carbon dioxide, and reduced oxygen levels compared with a conventional snorkel. In the controlled study, 20 healthy participants used two different full-face snorkel masks and a conventional snorkel under seated, light-exercise, and moderate-exercise conditions. The researchers found that full-face snorkel mask trials were stopped more often because end-tidal carbon dioxide exceeded the safety threshold. During light exercise, 18 of 40 full-face mask trials were stopped compared with 4 of 20 conventional snorkel trials. During moderate exercise, 9 of 22 full-face mask trials were stopped compared with 3 of 16 conventional snorkel trials. The main concern identified by the study is rebreathing caused by non-unidirectional airflow. Full-face snorkel masks are designed to separate inhaled and exhaled air, but the researchers found evidence that this separation was not consistently maintained. Carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the eye pockets of the masks fluctuated in a way that showed rebreathing in all full-face mask wearers. This means users may rebreathe exhaled air, leading to hypercapnia, which is elevated carbon dioxide, and hypoxemia, which is reduced oxygen in the blood. Traditional snorkels also carry some risk of carbon dioxide buildup, but they allow users to clear the snorkel tube, remove the mouthpiece, or take fresh breaths more easily. Full-face snorkel masks can be harder to remove and may delay access to fresh air, especially if a person is tired, panicked, or already experiencing symptoms from rising carbon dioxide. Because concerning findings occurred in healthy adults, the risk may be greater for children, older adults, and people with underlying heart or lung conditions. There are also fitting issue. Not everyone has the same face, and smaller faces may have worse fit and there is also the factor of individual lung capacity. These research concerns are reinforced by recent action from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. In 2026, the CPSC warned consumers to stop using OUSPT full-face snorkel masks immediately because of the risk of serious injury and death from drowning. The CPSC stated that the mask can cause labored breathing, loss of consciousness, excess fluid in the lungs, and increased carbon dioxide levels that can worsen breathing difficulty. The agency also reported five consumer incidents involving trouble breathing, lightheadedness, or loss of consciousness, as well as one lawsuit alleging that the product caused a drowning fatality. Approximately 84,000 OUSPT masks were sold on Amazon between March 2019 and February 2026, and consumers were advised to stop using and dispose of the masks rather than sell or give them away. Taken together, the Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine study and the CPSC warning support a stronger safety message: full-face snorkel masks should not be treated simply as recreational toys. They function as breathing apparatuses because they control how a person inhales and exhales while face-down in the water. For that reason, manufacturers should carry the responsibility to prove these products are safe through rigorous design testing, independent evaluation, and appropriate regulatory standards before they are marketed broadly to residents, visitors, families, and children. The practical safety message is that snorkelers should use simple, well-fitted equipment, snorkel with a buddy, take regular fresh-air breaks, and avoid full-face snorkel masks, especially for children, older adults, and people with medical risk factors. References: Grundemann J, Vrijdag XCE, Wong NYE, Gant N, Mitchell SJ, van Waart H. Full-face snorkel masks increase the incidence of hypoxemia and hypercapnia during simulated snorkeling compared to conventional snorkels. Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine. 2023;53(4):313-320. doi:10.28920/dhm53.4.313-320. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC Warns Consumers to Stop Using OUSPT Full-Face Snorkel Masks Immediately Due to Risk of Serious Injury and Death from Drowning Hazard. 2026. ** Support Deep Dive Into Water Safety by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/deep-dive-into-water-safety
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    54 分
  • Deep Dive: An Interview with Alissa Magrum, 2026

    Deep Dive: An Interview with Alissa Magrum, 2026
    2026/05/18
    Episode Notes

    April 8, 2026

    This episode of Deep Dive into Water Safety explores a critical truth: drowning is not random, rare, or inevitable; it is a preventable public health crisis. Alissa Magrum, Executive Director of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, will unpack why drowning continues to impact communities worldwide despite being largely preventable.

    Alissa shares her deeply personal journey into drowning prevention and highlights the urgent need to treat water safety as an essential life skill, just like wearing seatbelts or bike helmets. The conversation dives into the concept of “water competency,” emphasizing that safety goes beyond swimming skills to include awareness, environment, and decision-making across all ages and water settings.

    They also discuss the challenges of messaging, funding, and policy, and why collaboration locally and globally is key to driving change. From innovative community efforts like life jacket loaner stations and experiential learning, to national strategies and global partnerships, this episode highlights the growing momentum in drowning prevention.

    The takeaway is clear: water safety is everyone’s responsibility. With better education, stronger messaging, and collective action, we can save lives and shift the culture around water safety for future generations.

    **

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    1 時間 20 分
  • Deep Dive: An Interview with Drasko Bogdanovic and Dr. Justin Sempsrott

    Deep Dive: An Interview with Drasko Bogdanovic and Dr. Justin Sempsrott
    2026/05/15
    Episode Notes Inside the Roundup: Drasko Bogdanovic and Dr. Justin Sempsrott on the Critical Minutes That Save Lives — “Micro Delays Matter”

    This episode of Deep Dive Into Water Safety focused on what happens in the first minutes after a drowning rescue and why those moments can determine survival long before someone reaches a hospital.

    Returning guests Drasko Bogdanovic and Dr. Justin Sempsrott discussed the San Luis Obispo “Roundup,” a large scale rescue training event that brought together more than 250 first responders, including lifeguards, EMS, firefighters, and rescue personnel from Costa Rica, Mexico, and New Zealand.

    The goal was not classroom learning. It was stress exposure and muscle memory.

    Responders trained in cold, wind, wet gear, helicopter wash, long carries, radio coordination, and the confusion that follows a real rescue. The training centered around something Dr. Sempsrott often says in drowning response: “micro delays matter.”

    A major part of the discussion focused on how drowning differs from many other cardiac arrest situations. Dr. Sempsrott explained why oxygenation and ventilations are critical in drowning cases, especially pediatric hypoxic arrests, and why actions taken by lifeguards and bystanders can shape outcomes before EMS even arrives. He also reinforced the importance of CPR for parents and the public that includes both breaths and compressions in drowning emergencies. Hawaiʻi’s drowning standing orders currently list oxygen as the first intervention.

    The conversation also focused on the role of lifeguards within emergency response systems. Drasko Bogdanovic and Dr. Sempsrott argued that lifeguards routinely perform advanced airway and resuscitation skills in uncontrolled environments, yet are often overlooked in funding, planning, and emergency response discussions.

    The conversation also turned to larger problems in drowning prevention, including inconsistent data collection, underreporting of nonfatal drownings, and the difficulty of tracking long term outcomes after rescue. Prevention remained a constant theme throughout the episode, including public education, supervision, CPR training, engineering solutions, and stronger coordination between agencies.

    The episode ended with discussion about how to keep building these programs, including expanding simulation training, strengthening partnerships with organizations including the CDC and the International Drowning Research Alliance (IDRA), and creating lifeguard centered programs that can grow internationally while still addressing local community needs. Drasko Bogdanovic also discussed the Lifeguard Project and the idea of “lifeguards for life,” emphasizing continued collaboration, training, and support for rescuers long after certification.**

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    1 時間 19 分