OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City Beach Patrol begins its coverage season on the Saturday, May 27.
Although beach patrol activities are taking place throughout town before Memorial Day weekend, including the 2017 Surf Rescue Academy, the beach will not be guarded until surf rescue technicians take their stands on May 27. Until then, the patrol is working hard to gear up for the summer, with the first training academy beginning this Saturday, May 21, and the second academy beginning, Saturday June 18.
Starting May 27 through Sunfest weekend, the beach patrol will be on duty every day from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. At 5:25 p.m., lifeguards will begin signaling beachgoers out of the ocean. This is the OCBP’s way of letting visitors know that guards are going off duty and all water-related activities should cease until 10 a.m. the next day.
“We continue our efforts to educate the public, warning them of the dangers of swimming on unguarded beaches,” said Beach Patrol Captain Butch Arbin. “We do whatever it takes to make sure people leave the ocean before we make that last turn to the west, leaving our beaches for the night.”