Guam’s Search and Rescue community held its first quarterly meeting of the year on Jan. 8 to discuss safety strategies and address rising water-related fatalities. 

The meeting brought together representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, Guam Fire and Police Departments, and other local and federal agencies.

Six water-related deaths were recorded in Fiscal Year 2023, rising to 11 in 2024, and an alarming six have already been reported in 2025. SAR professionals stressed the importance of public awareness and vigilance when participating in outdoor activities like hiking and watersports.

SAR professionals emphasized several key safety items for residents and visitors:

  • Never go alone: Always explore Guam's natural landscape with a partner or group.
  • Stay connected: Recognize the terrain may create communication dead zones for cell phones and VHF radios. Personal locator beacons provide accurate location information to rescuers and are more reliable than smartphone SOS features, which don't work in Guam.
  • Use text messages: In emergencies, text messages often go through when calls don't. They also use less power and data. If your calls aren't connecting, consider using text.
  • Change your voicemail: Update your outgoing voicemail message with your location, situation, and plans. This message remains accessible even if your phone dies.
  • Stay with your vessel: If your boat overturns, stay with it or huddle with others. It's easier for rescuers to spot large objects at sea, and boats drift differently than individuals, which SAR teams account for when planning searches.
  • Plan your dive and dive your plan: Several recent losses came when people changed plans or went out for one more dive, often breaking off from a group and venturing alone.
  • Check the weather and heed advisories: Be aware of weather conditions and marine forecasts before heading out. Heed all advisories and never overestimate your skills or the capabilities of your equipment.
  • Consider response time in remote areas: Even with helicopter support, there may be delays associated with reaching remote areas. Similarly, despite having all-terrain vehicles, Guam Fire often must hike in on foot to conduct rescues, which takes time. Call for help as soon as you think there's an issue to avoid further delays.
  • Boating safety education is available on Guam: The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary in Guam offers boating safety classes and other services to promote safe boating. The Auxiliary is a uniformed, all-volunteer component of the U.S. Coast Guard. 

SAR leaders urge the public to check weather advisories and participate in available safety education programs, such as the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary's boating classes and the Guam Police Department's youth water safety sessions.

The collaborative meeting ended with a commitment to strengthen interagency communication and promote safety to prevent future tragedies.