Ocean City Beach Patrol warns beachgoers of potentials rip current threats
Safe Swimming
MARYLAND – Rip current risks have been high because of Hurricane Ernesto well off the coast of our beaches. While the increased risks may soon subside, Ocean City Beach Patrol is warning swimmers to be safe.
Safe Swimming
Whether you’re swimming or surfing, the Ocean City Beach Patrol says they want you to pay attention to the waves, so they don’t have to worry.
Lieutenant Mike Stone of the Ocean City Beach Patrol says if you get caught in a rip current, how you respond could make the difference between life and death. “A lot of times people have trouble when they go in the water, and they aren’t lifeguards present. Because if something happens, who’s going to help them?… The worst thing that could happen is that they panic. and when they panic, they’ll try to swim right back in against the rip current. We always encourage people to just to kind of go with the rip current, but if there in trouble wave or let us know they need help.”
Speaking of patrol, Nigel Cacho is a 19-year-old lifeguard with the Beach Patrol. He said after managing a pool for the past 5 years, he needed to do something more. “There are many people who come to ocean city and beaches all along the coast, who don’t know how to swim or aren’t proficient in swimming, and they might not know what a rip current is, or they might walk too far out into the ocean”
Beach patrol is urging beachgoers to only swim while a lifeguard is on duty, and Nigel says knowing what to do and if there is danger is an important factor. “It’s our job to make sure we educate the public on where the rip currents are, how to get out of the rip currents, and go rescue them if needed.”
And it’s lifeguards like Nigel are why fellow beachgoer Justin Weideman and his family feel comfortable in ocean city. “When we came down, we understood that there were rip currents, high risk of rip currents, and having an 8-year-old son, it makes us feel a little bit more at ease… you know, at the drop of a dime, the ocean can take my son away, having a lifeguard, it just makes us much more comfortable.”
Ocean City Beach Patrol is reminding everyone that rip currents can happen at any beach with breaking waves, and to stay vigilant and alert when swimming.
Lifeguards Needed
Speaking of beach safety, in Ocean City beach patrol is calling for more hands-on deck. They attract massive number of tourists every summer, so they need to be completely staffed and present to ensure beach safety.
Sergeant Jamie Falcon says recruitment is key. In November of 2023, they started encouraging Canadian applicants to relocate to Ocean City and become a part of their team. “A lot of the Canadians that we hired or offered positions too, even the one who didn’t come, then they were recruiting other people to come. So then, in the spring test that we had, those numbers went up more. So, that really, I think, is what got the push going that got us back to having some solid numbers this summer.
Sergeant Falcon says efforts like that are so important because at times it’s challenging bring in new guards. “It’s surprisingly not very easy it’s something that everybody should want to do, because it’s fun, it’s outdoors, there’s a lot of comraderies, it’s a chance to a make a difference in other people’s lives- but it’s pretty tough.
Ocean City Beach Patrol does not require any prior experience. They say there are different phases one must pass, including a written and physical test, and interested applicants should check out their website.
