Evaluating a High-Intensity Aquatic Emergency Training Program for Surf Instructors: A Pilot Study

IntroductionSurfing is a popular activity that also plays a crucial role in aquatic safety because surfers can act as first responders in emergencies. The objective of this brief report was to assess the feasibility of a surf-specific functional workout integrating aquatic rescue activities and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and to examine whether CPR quality is preserved under physiologic fatigue.MethodA descriptive pilot study was conducted with 10 surf instructors who received a CPR refresher session before engaging in a CrossFit-based workout of the day using an as-many-rounds-as-possible format. This included rescue, extraction, and resuscitation activities. Variables including repetition time, heart rate, perceived exertion, and CPR quality were analyzed.ResultsSurfers maintained consistent rescue times, especially in the first 2 repetitions, with an average heart rate at 83% of their maximum and a perceived exertion of 8. CPR quality remained high, with a median CPR quality score of 89% initially and 91% in the second repetition. No significant differences were found in CPR quality between rounds.ConclusionThis pilot study showed that a surf-specific functional workout may be used as a physiologic simulation of rescue-to-resuscitation transitions, during which CPR quality can be preserved despite high perceived fatigue. These findings support the feasibility of this approach for simulating operational demands rather than demonstrating training efficacy.