The Red Can blog
Water safety guides from working lifeguards.
Rip currents, tides, ocean conditions, the gear we carry and how to keep a pool party safe. Plain answers, sourced from NOAA, the CDC and the U.S. Lifesaving Association.
Pool Party Safety·7 min read
How Many Lifeguards Do I Need for a Pool Party?
How many lifeguards do I need for a pool party? Our lifeguard to swimmer ratio for pools, spas and beaches, what raises it, and quick examples you can copy.
Read articleOcean Safety
4 articlesOcean Safety·8 min read
Rip Currents: How to Spot One and Escape Safely
A rip current can pull even strong swimmers away from shore. Learn how to spot one, how to escape, and how to help others, with NOAA and USLA guidance.
Read articleOcean Safety·8 min read
How to Read Ocean Conditions Before You Swim in SoCal
Read ocean conditions like a lifeguard: surf and swell period, wind, water temperature, beach warning flags, stingrays and water quality at SoCal beaches.
Read articleOcean Safety·9 min read
Types of Tides Explained: Spring, Neap, King and Minus Tides
The types of tides explained for beachgoers: spring vs neap, king tides, minus tides, how to read a tide chart, and how tides change rip currents in SoCal.
Read articleOcean Safety·8 min read
El Niño Southern California Guide: Ocean, Surf and Safety
El Niño Southern California guide: what El Niño is, how it warms our ocean, boosts winter surf and erosion, and what it means for beach safety in 2026-27.
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Lifeguard Gear
2 articlesLifeguard Gear·8 min read
The Rescue Can: History of the Lifeguard's Most Iconic Tool
The rescue can went from an 1897 metal torpedo to the plastic Burnside buoy. Learn who invented it, how it differs from the rescue tube, and why it's red.
Read articleLifeguard Gear·9 min read
Lifeguard Equipment: What Lifeguards Carry and Why
A lifeguard's guide to lifeguard equipment: rescue tubes, fins, first aid kits, AEDs, tourniquets, zinc oxide, and what a hired pool party lifeguard brings.
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