Ocean City Beach Patrol welcomes new class of over 40 recruits

OCEAN CITY, Md. – The Ocean City Beach Patrol’s 2nd academy class started training Monday.

Recruits reported in the morning, where they were instructed on policies, procedures, and expectations.

Then they took to the beach for their 400 meter ocean swim test and 100 meter beach run test, which they’ll be performing multiple times throughout the week.

Recruits will get on-the-job experience with training instructors this weekend before taking the stand alone for the first time next Monday.

Captain Butch Arbin detailed the thorough training the recruits will receive throughout the week: “They’ll get their CPR certification, their first aid certification, they’ll learn extrication of a sand-hole collapse victim. We’ve developed a technique for neck and back injuries in the surf, they’ll learn that. They’ll learn search and recovery.”

Captain Arbin said this has been the best year for recruiting and hiring they’ve seen in quite some time, with more than 70 first-time guards taking the stand this season.