What Water Rescue Teams Need: Training and Equipment

Water rescue teams need three things: people trained to a recognized standard, the right protective equipment and rescue gear, and an organization that has planned and practiced for water emergencies. In the U.S., the key benchmarks are NFPA 1006 for rescuer qualifications, NFPA 2500 for an organization's technical rescue capability, and NFPA 1955 for protective equipment for surface water work. Federal grants, such as FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grants, can help departments pay for training and equipment.

This is one of the Amin Foundation's founding concerns. In September 2022, the family's statement named "the need for proper training and equipment for emergency response personnel" as part of its mission.

Who does water rescue

Different people respond depending on where the water is:

• Lifeguards watch swimmers and make rescues at pools and beaches. NOAA says lifeguards rescue tens of thousands of people from rip currents (opens in a new tab) in the U.S. each year, and the National Weather Service quotes the U.S. Lifesaving Association: the chance of drowning at a beach with lifeguards is 1 in 18 million (opens in a new tab).
• Fire, police and sheriff teams answer 911 water calls in many communities, on lakes, rivers, floodwater and ice.
• Marine units of fire and police agencies operate rescue boats.

The U.S. Lifesaving Association (opens in a new tab) certifies open water lifeguard agencies, and also "Aquatic Rescue Response Teams," which are usually fire, police or sheriff teams that answer 911 water calls.

Training levels and standards

Water rescue is a form of technical rescue, and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) publishes the main U.S. standards.

NFPA lets the public read its codes and standards free online (opens in a new tab) after creating an account. We name these standards here; we don't summarize their requirements, because responders should work from the documents themselves.

Training is built in levels. New York State's Office of Fire Prevention and Control, for example, lists water rescue courses (opens in a new tab) for emergency responders that include:

• Water Rescue Awareness (4 hours);
• Surface Water Rescue Technician (16 hours);
• Swift Water/Flood Rescue Operations (16 hours) and Technician (32 hours);
• Ice/Cold Water Rescue Technician (16 hours);
• rescue boat courses.

Most of these courses need a Training Authorization Letter. The state's swiftwater technician course is taught at the State Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany and is described as meeting NFPA 1006 and 1670 swiftwater requirements.

Boat crews have their own national standard. The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators runs the BOAT program (opens in a new tab), the national standard for training boat crews in maritime law enforcement and emergency response, including search and rescue. The U.S. Coast Guard recognizes it through a memorandum of understanding.

Rescue breathing in the water is a specialist skill. The 2024 American Heart Association and American Academy of Pediatrics guidance says resuscitation may begin with in-water rescue breathing when safely provided by rescuers trained in the technique (opens in a new tab), and that resuscitation must focus on restoring breathing as much as circulation.

Equipment that makes rescue possible

Equipment needs depend on the water a department covers: pools, lakes, rivers, surf, floods or ice. In general, teams need:

• Personal protective equipment for each rescuer, matched to the hazard. NFPA 1955 is the standard for PPE in surface water and contaminated water operations.
• Reach and throw equipment, such as throw bags, ropes and reaching tools, so rescuers can often help from shore first.
• Boats and watercraft suited to the water. FEMA's grant rules list boats as specialized equipment.
• Equipment for ice and cold water where lakes and rivers freeze.
• Medical equipment for breathing support and CPR once the person is out of the water.

USLA also publishes minimum recommended equipment standards for open water rescue programs; see its certification page (opens in a new tab).

Paying for it: FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants

FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) (opens in a new tab) help fire departments, nonaffiliated EMS organizations and state fire training academies pay for equipment, protective gear, vehicles and training.

• Water rescue fits. The FY 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (opens in a new tab) rated technical rescue training (NFPA 1006 and 2500) a high priority, and named swift water rescue capability as an example of fundable new-mission equipment.
• Not everyone can apply. The FY 2025 rules say dive teams, search and rescue squads or similar groups that don't provide medical transport are not eligible to apply.
• Cost share. Awardees pay a share based on population: 5% (20,000 people or fewer), 10% (over 20,000 up to 1 million) or 15% (over 1 million).
• Timing. When we checked in October 2026, the FY 2025 application period was closed and FEMA had announced FY 2025 awards on September 30, 2026. Watch the AFG page for the next funding notice.

How communities can support their responders

Responders can only do so much once the call comes in. Communities can make every rescue more likely to succeed:

• Don't become a second victim. Minnesota DNR warns that heroics by well-meaning but untrained rescuers sometimes result in two deaths (opens in a new tab). Teach everyone to reach or throw, don't go, so responders arrive to one person in the water, not two.
• Start care before they arrive. The CDC says your CPR skills could save someone's life in the time it takes for paramedics to arrive (opens in a new tab). See where to learn CPR.
• Help them find you. Delaware's state 911 office notes that delays may happen if responders can't find you (opens in a new tab), and recommends clearly posted address numbers. Write emergency plans with exact locations; see how to write a water emergency action plan.
• Swim where lifeguards are. Support lifeguard staffing at public pools and beaches, and encourage young people to train as lifeguards; see how to become a lifeguard or swim instructor.
• Support local budgets and grant applications. Ask your fire department what it needs for water rescue, and tell your local officials you support funding it.
• Add public safety equipment. Life jacket loaner stations at lakes and boat launches help prevent emergencies in the first place; see life jacket loaner stations.

The Amin Foundation's goal

One of the foundation's four pillars is raising funds for training and equipment for emergency response teams. This is a goal we are working toward, not a program that is running today. When we are ready to support responders directly, we will say so on this site, with the details.

If you work in fire, EMS, lifeguarding or water rescue and would like to share what your team needs, or to help us plan this work responsibly, get in touch through our partner page.

What you can do today

• Find out which agency responds to water emergencies where you live, swim or boat.
• If you're a responder, read NFPA 1006, 2500 and 1955 free online, and check your team against them.
• If you're a department leader, put the AFG page on your calendar for the next funding notice.
• Share reach or throw, don't go with your community.
• Book a CPR class.