Lifeguards ready for busy summer in Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, Md. – Millions of people will be making their way to the beach this summer in Ocean City and lifeguards are tasked with keeping each and every visitor safe.

“Honestly, it’s been pretty intense,” said Matthew Evers, a lifeguard at the Ocean City Beach Patrol.

“I haven’t had much time to relax so far, and it’s like go go from the start and you have to be ready, you have to be alert,” said Evers.

Evers from Canada is working as a lifeguard in Ocean City this summer and he said he already had to rescue several people from the water this Memorial Day weekend, which is no easy task.

“Even when I’m going for a rescue I can’t just be focusing on the person where they’re at,” said Evers.

“I have to make sure I don’t run into people, run into sand holes,” said Evers.

Captain Butch Arbin said life guards constantly have to stay on their toes and keep an eye out for things like rip currents as well as people drowning in the water. That is why training for the job can be so demanding.

“The training is very intense,” said Arbin.

“Number one, we don’t require any certifications or past experience to work for us, which surprises a lot of people, but we can’t rely on somebody who’s taken a course to learn to be a pool lifeguard to life guarding the surf,” said Arbin.

Arbin said although lifeguards are ready to take on the summer season, they need visitors to help keep people safe while out on the water.

“Please work with the lifeguard,” said Arbin.

“When the lifeguard comes over and says you’re not allowed to smoke on the beach, you’re not allowed to do this on the beach, you need to move your umbrella back because it’s blocking over vision, just be cooperative,” said Arbin.

The Ocean City Beach Patrol is still looking for more lifeguards to join their team. They will be hosting tryouts on Saturday, June 1 at 9 AM on the boardwalk at Dorchester Street.