Ocean City Beach Patrol Tips to Stay Safe on the Beach

Ocean City, Md. – So you’ve decided to go to the beach this summer and hangout in the water, it’s a good time, but you could end up in the hospital if you aren’t prepared for rip currents.

These powerful forces of nature pull people away from the beaches out to sea and fighting directly against them is strongly discouraged by Ocean City Beach Patrol.

“We recommend that you just stay calm and relax and swim parallel to the shore either north or south until you feel you’re out of the rip current and then you can swim to shore,” Lt. Mike Stone of the OCBP said. “They can really affect anyone young children teenagers adults strong swimmers or non swimmers.” He continued, “you just have to have respect for the ocean and just be aware that things can happen and that’s why we always recommend people to swim when the life guards are on duty.”

Research shows rip currents make up about 80% of beach accidents and cause around 100 deaths in the U.S. each year, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

You can spot a rip current by looking for foamy, bubbly water that’s lighter in color than the rest of the ocean. If you’re still not sure if there’s a rip current in the water you’re encouraged to ask your lifeguard. They post put the water conditions including high tide, low tide, water temperature or if there are obstacles in that way.

If you would like to learn more about how you can stay safe out on the beaches, the OCBP holds safety seminars every Sunday morning around 11 a.m. at 18 different locations on the beach.