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Since the middle of 2023, the Costa Ballena Lifeguard program has been operating purely on donations from the community. Before that, the Costa Rican association had a three year contract with the Municipality of Osa that paid for the lifeguards salaries and the budget was stretched to include administrative expenses, maintaining the lifeguard towers, and purchasing lifesaving equipment and medical supplies. It has been a year since the Muni has proposed a new contract, and when they do there is no guarantee that the association will get it.
Currently the lifeguard association budget is about $7000 USD per month. The board members are all volunteers, except for one paid administrator. Our latest fundraiser, the Semana Santa Classic surf contest in Dominical, raised over $3500 in donations. It was an amazing turnout and had the full support of the community. There were over 30 sponsors and many locals donated food, plants, or art for sale to help with additional donations. That is going to keep the lifeguards in the towers only for two more weeks.
Why are the Costa Ballena lifeguards so important?
In the last three years they prevented over 12,000 people from drowning by warning them away from dangerous rip currents. They performed 63 rescues where they swam out and pulled struggling swimmers to shore – literally saving their lives. They helped with 35 medical emergencies, including treatments for stingray encounters. And they provide an educational resource for swimmers to explain rip currents and where it is safe to swim. The most important statistic, there have been ZERO drownings when the lifeguards are in the stands.
What is the value of your life, or a friend or family member, if they are out swimming or surfing in Playa Hermosa or Dominical? What is it worth to your business knowing that your guests and customers are going to be safe? How much tourism would disappear if drownings became frequent along our coastline? It is a very real possibility as the association’s accounts will be empty by the end of the month and no one else is paying for lifeguards.
Our next fundraiser is the 4th of July party in Dominical and raft race down the Baru River. Visit the lifeguard website and Facebook pages for more details on how to get involved. You can also email lifeguardscostaballena@gmail.com. We have a $1/day program for individuals and businesses that want to show their support “for the cost of a cup of coffee” as Richard Abraham, one of our greatest supporters, would say. Local businesses are encouraged to organize concerts and dinners as fundraisers. Volunteers are also working on an international grant and pursuing the new contract that the Municipality is offering.
If you wish to make a donation in support of the Costa Ballena Lifeguards program (with an option to be tax deductible in the United States), please visit our website – https://lifeguardscostaballena.com/donations/ . And thank you to all of those locals, visitors, and businesses already helping to keep the program afloat
