Ryan Cowder
Special To The Dispatch
OCEAN CITY — When I first moved to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, someone once told me, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait five minutes.” Well, I have waited but the rain doesn’t seem to be ending.
This is one of the wettest springs I can remember. But regardless, the summer season is upon us. I believe it is going to be one of those years where it simply goes from cold to hot in a matter of days. I am looking forward to those hot days spent on the beach along with those cool nights walking the Boardwalk. Of course, I am also extremely excited about the big events that Ocean City brings in every summer. The Air Show and the White Marlin Open are two of my favorites.
Along with these large events during the summer come tremendous amounts of people. Ocean City quickly becomes the second largest city in Maryland during the summer months, and the Beach Patrol has the enormous task of keeping everyone safe during his or her time on the sand and in the water.
The Dispatch has been a valuable asset for us in helping to achieve part one of our mission, which is to educate the public. Understanding the dangers that our ocean presents, allows a person to make good decisions in keeping themselves and their family safe while vacationing in Ocean City. I will do my best each week to share some of the most important things to remember in order to make your stay safe and enjoyable.
With that being said, let me share one of the most important messages you will ever hear, “Keep your feet in the sand until the lifeguards in the stand!” The ocean is unpredictable and statistics show that most of the drownings in the world occur during a time when lifeguards are not on duty (99% of drownings that have occurred in Ocean City, happened when Beach Patrol was not on duty). I have been surfing for the past 19 years and have been making ocean rescues for the past 18 years, and I typically do not surf or swim alone. It is extremely sad when a person does not survive due to being stuck in a rip current, especially when it would have been a routine rescue for us if it had occurred during our operating hours. It all comes down to being educated.
Our lifeguards have some of the best ocean rescue training in the world. They spend an enormous amount of time preparing for anything and everything that can happen on the beach and in the water.
Our lifeguards also enjoy sharing the information that they have learned with their beach patrons. The next time you are on the beach, please walk up and ask the lifeguard about the daily ocean conditions. They will be more than happy to point out any rips for you as well as explain any beach ordinances. There is also a lot of information on the back of our lifeguard chairs, including a rip current diagram, beach regulations, water temperature and the surfing beach locations. Our lifeguards are also well trained in delivering beach safety seminars. So the next time you see the lifeguard blowing his or her whistle and waving everyone over, please go over, listen, and ask any questions that you may have.
If you do get caught in a rip current, do not panic. Try to swim in a direction parallel to the shoreline. Once you feel you are out of the current, start swimming at an angle toward shore. If you feel you cannot make it to shore, wave and call for help. If you feel someone else is stuck in a rip current, please get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not present, call 911. To help you remember what to do, remember the word RIP (R = Relax do not panic, I = I need help, wave to alert others you need assistance, P = Swim Parallel to shore to escape the outward flow and then swim back to shore).
The Ocean City Beach Patrol is on duty every day from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. beginning on the Saturday of Memorial day weekend. I hope that everyone has a safe and enjoyable time in Ocean City.
(The writer has been with the Beach Patrol for 18 years and is currently a sergeant. He is an assistant principal at Stephen Decatur High School.)