By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- The New Jersey State Senate unanimously passed a resolution on June 30 formally recognizing approximately 3,000 open water lifeguards patrolling 123 miles of coastline as first responders and emergency response providers.
- The designation grants lifeguards access to state emergency responder programs and benefits including emergency responder insurance, line-of-duty death benefits for surviving families, and vaccination access during communicable disease outbreaks.
- The resolution honors two lifeguards who died in the line of duty in 2021: Norman Inferrera, 16, whose patrol boat overturned in Cape May, and Keith Pinto, 19, struck by lightning while working at South Seaside Park beach.
- Lifeguards in New Jersey receive specialized training in emergency medical care, marine firefighting, and rescue watercraft operations comparable to other emergency response professionals.
- The recognition positions lifeguards to benefit from the New Jersey First Responders Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Protection Act signed into law earlier in 2026.
TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey State Senate unanimously passed a resolution formalizing recognition of open water lifeguards as first responders and emergency response providers, granting them access to state emergency services benefits and protections.
The measure, designated SR72, passed on June 30 following introduction in February by Senator Vin Gopal, the bill’s prime sponsor. The resolution recognizes the approximately 3,000 lifeguards who patrol New Jersey’s 123 miles of coastline.
The new designation extends emergency responder benefits to lifeguards previously unavailable to civilians. Benefits include priority access to emergency responder insurance coverage, line-of-duty death benefits available to surviving family members, and eligibility for vaccinations during future communicable disease outbreaks.
Gopal characterized lifeguards as critical emergency response personnel. “Every day, lifeguards stand ready to put themselves in harm’s way to protect others. They are often the first to respond in emergencies, making split-second decisions that save lives and keep our beaches and waterways safe.”
Lifeguards in New Jersey receive specialized training in emergency medical care, marine firefighting, law enforcement support, and rescue watercraft operations—qualifications comparable to those of other emergency response professionals. Supporters of the resolution emphasized that the training and responsibilities of lifeguards align them with traditional first responder roles.
The resolution honors two New Jersey lifeguards killed in the line of duty in 2021. Norman Inferrera, 16, from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, was a first-year lifeguard assigned to Cape May when his patrol boat overturned in rough surf on August 19, 2021. Inferrera was knocked unconscious when he struck his head on the boat and died two days later at Cooper University Medical Center in Camden.
On August 30, 2021, Keith Pinto, 19, a South Seaside Park beach lifeguard and 2020 Toms River High School North graduate attending Ocean County College, was struck by lightning while working at 21st Avenue Beach and died from his injuries.
Mat Giachetti, founder of Howell-based LifeForce USA, a training center affiliated with the American Heart Association, American Health & Safety Institute, National Safety Council, and American Red Cross, collaborated with officials from the United States Lifesaving Association to help draft the proposal.
“We respond to emergencies, treat injured victims, provide emergency assistance and transport people to safety,” Giachetti stated, noting that lifeguards already performed the core duties of emergency responders.
The resolution supports efforts to address persistent lifeguard shortages, particularly in mid-August when teachers return to classrooms and college students leave employment. Supporters indicated that formal recognition as first responders would enhance recruitment and retention efforts.
Lifeguards will benefit from the New Jersey First Responders Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Protection Act, which Governor Phil Murphy signed into law earlier in 2026. The act provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with work-related PTSD under specified conditions. Previously, the law applied exclusively to firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, dispatchers, and law enforcement officers.
Giachetti noted that lifeguards will now be included in workplace PTSD protections as a result of the first responder designation.