Lifeguard Blood

How does a scrawny kid who despises swimming-especially in the bitterly cold waters of the Pacific Ocean during the month of March-become one of a handful of aquatic athletes selected to become an ocean lifeguard for his coastal town in Southern California? For Dave Wagner, protecting the lives of swimmers and surfers was already a family tradition, starting with his father and carried on by his two older brothers, sister, and twin brother. The pressure was on! With the Wagner family comprising, at one point, roughly 10% of the Oceanside Lifeguard Agency, Dave is uniquely qualified to share these real-life stories of danger and heroism from his over three decades of ensuring the safety of ocean beachgoers, both in and out of the water. The first hand rescues described by the author, a few of which unfortunately end in tragedy, are a gripping portrayal of how beach lifeguards regularly put their lives on the line to save the lives of others. The job requires physical ability, courage, endurance, and altruism, but most of all, respect for the tremendous power and unpredictability of the ocean. Follow Dave, and at times his brothers, as he relates true life-and- death encounters from the top of the lifeguard tower. It may forever change the way you think about your next trip to the beach...