In the article, the author examines the organization of the placement of rescue units of the search and rescue service of St. Petersburg and identifies problematic issues of ensuring the safety of people in places of mass recreation of the population in the water area and beaches. The purpose of the work is to develop a model and methodology for calculating the necessary and optimal number of rescue forces and means to improve the safety of people in the water area. As a result of the research, a model and methodology for calculating the required number of rescue forces and means in places of mass recreation of the population and beaches, on the example of water bodies of St. Petersburg, have been developed and proposed. A comparative analysis of the compliance of the data obtained in the calculations on the necessary and sufficient number of rescue stations and rescue posts on the beaches, taking into account the specifics (features) of the water area and the current standards of their (rescue stations and posts) placement on the water bodies of St. Petersburg.

Keywords: rescue stations, rescue posts, area of responsibility, search and rescue operations, calculation model and methodology, safety in the water area, safety on beaches and in places of mass recreation