SAFETY PROFESSIONALS SINCE 2000
ABOUT OUR TEAM
CEO & LEAD INSTRUCTOR
John B. Hodgdon, II, CEO of Heartbeat Safety, has been an Instructor for the American Red Cross for over 10 years and has been a certified Lifeguard for over 20 years, with experience in a training and supervisor capacity at swimming pools, lakes, open-water beach environments working directly with law enforcement, ems, and fire rescue to ensure the highest level of public safety.
As a Lead Lifeguard for Gulf Islands National Seashore, he was presented with The Star Award - “For Outstanding Representation of The National Park Service and Great Commitment to Public Safety” and later became a founding member of the Gulf Islands National Seashore Water Safety Council. As the Aquatics Director for the City of Inverness, John continued his career in public safety, training and supervising a seasonal staff of 50 lifeguards and swim lesson instructors.
John has worked with clients of all skill and ability levels to certify lay practitioners, nurses and medical staff, athletic trainers/coaches, teachers, law enforcement agencies, local and municipal lifeguard agencies, and first responders.
His passion for empowering everyone with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to respond competently and appropriately in an emergency led him to found Heartbeat Safety.
LEAD INSTRUCTOR
GULF COAST, FL AREA
Andrew Edwards, Heartbeat Safety's Lead Instructor for the Gulf Coast Region, is a former beach lifeguard, EMT, and USLA instructor.
He started his career at age 16 and eventually became the first full-time Senior Lifeguard on Pensacola Beach. He eventually became one of the most decorated lifeguards in Northwest Florida, supervising not only Pensacola Beach but also Okaloosa and Navarre Beach.
After graduating with a degree in Finance from UWF, he became a Broker Associate for his real estate company. That doesn't stop him from swimming, though. He is now a long-distance swimmer who holds the record for the longest swim in the northern Gulf of Mexico at 20 miles.