Safety a top priority in Ocean City ahead of Memorial Day Wknd.

OCEAN CITY, Md. – Both locals and visitors are getting ready to party it up at this beaches for Memorial Day Weekend. It’s the official start of summer in Ocean City.

Visitors Descend, Locals Come Out of Hibernation

The holiday weekend is expected to bring thousands of visitors to the resort town, and bring the locals out of hibernation. Whether traveling around town by car, by bike, or by foot, police and fire officials say everyone should be acting responsibly and prioritizing safety.

“Walk smart, bike smart, drive smart here in Ocean City,” said Ashley Miller of Ocean City Police Department (OCPD). “Especially, if you’re along Coastal Highway, you have three to four lanes, including the bus lane, both directions.”

OCPD Gearing Up

It’s the last year that seasonal police officers will assist OCPD. Additionally, about 40 public safety aides will be on hand to keep everyone safe.

“They are civilian,” Miller said. “So, they don’t have arrest powers, but they’ll be able to help on accident scenes, handling our local ordinances, like smoking violations, and things like that.”

Meanwhile, regular patrols will be increased Saturday, to accompany a DUI enforcement detail.

“Their sole focus is looking for that impaired driving, and that allows our officers on regular patrol duty to handle calls for service,” Miller said.

OCPD’s Worcester Street police substation is also now open, ready to keep officers close to service needed on the sand.

“We want to make sure that we have the ability for citizens to turn in lost phones, wallets, things like that they find on the boardwalk, and to have easy access to our officers,” Miller said.

Staying Safe on the Sand

Also on the boardwalk: public AED and naloxone kits. They’re ready to use in case of an emergency, while EMS is on its way.

“Pick up the phone and dial 911 right away,” said Ryan Whittington of the Ocean City Fire Department. “We have great response times in Ocean City. So, the sooner you dial 911, the faster we can get to you for help.”

And with temperatures expected to soar into the 80’s this weekend, many might be tempted to take a dip. Guards will finally be on duty, but be sure to keep an eye out for rip currents.

“No one can swim better than our Ocean City Beach Patrol,” Whittington said. “They save thousands of lives each year. Whatever you do, do not go into the water if they’re not there, regardless of how strong of a swimmer you are.”

Safety is Key

Miller says the biggest safety tips we can all follow include staying in the crosswalks, following traffic signals and speed limits, and always paying attention. Whittington echoes those important messages, adding that if you do need to call for help, be sure to know the address at which you’re located.

And, Whittington says, if you see something, say something. “Something that may look off to you, might not look right, make sure you find your closest police officer  or stop by your closest fire station,” he said.