Lifesaving law approved in Panama

On Thursday 24 November the National Assembly of Deputies of the Republic of Panama approved the Project of Bill n° 101, which regulates the profession of lifesaving and dictates other dispositions.


On Thursday 24 November the National Assembly of Deputies of the Republic of Panama approved the Project of Bill n° 101, which regulates the profession of lifesaving and dictates other dispositions.

This new law aims to provide a general frame to lifesaving in Panama. Lifesaving has been developed in Panama since the 1940’s when Adam Gordón and Pedro Almillátegui took the first steps to organise the rescue of human lives in aquatic environments. The new Law is now only waiting for the signature of the President of the Republic of Panama in order to become effective for the profession of lifesaving.

The original document was a proposal of the Lifeguards Association of Panama who were able to introduce this thanks to the Legislator Noriel Salerno in December 2003. Afterwards, the Deputies Vladimir Herrera, Luis Carlos Cleghorn and Agustín Escude presented the document to the plenary session of the Assembly in April of this year.

Panama is the first country of the region in having a general Law that formalizes this activity. The Lifeguards Association of Panama is the organization who from 1999 onward has oriented the efforts for the promotion of lifesaving. Now it has obtained the legal recognition of its activities through this new law.

ILS recognises this as a large step for lifesaving in Panama and the world and congratulates the Lifeguards Association of Panama for their efforts.