Although Labor Day marks the traditional end of the summer season and begins what the Ocean City Beach Patrol refers to as โfall guarding,โ I assure you that there will still be a lot of beautiful sunny beach days ahead, well into the fall. I personally plan on taking advantage of this season. Even though itโs fall we still have safety messages. What we want you to be aware of is that fall guarding is different from guarding during the summer months and it comes with many unique challenges. During this period, we are in a reduced coverage mode with fewer lifeguard towers and surf rescue technicians patrolling the beach. This reduction in personnel is an annual occurrence with an earlier start of college classes and the return of our education professionals to school systems throughout the U.S. Additionally, tropical storm activity in the Atlantic is at its peak during this time and contributes to rougher surf which I am sure you have been noticing. This heavy surf contributes to the frequency and severity of rip currents, which account for 95 percent of surf rescues and a drowning that occurred 90 minutes after the guards went off duty last summer. With fewer guards on the beach and stands that are farther apart, a guard may have to run two blocks or more (as far as 800 meters or ยฝ mile) to rescue a victim where as in the summer they need only run 50 meters. In order to increase safety and coverage of the beach, the Beach Patrol will rely more heavily on its motorized support vehicles to patrol between stands. This enables them to provide back up if the need should arise.
Although we have less available personnel, the Beach Patrol remains committed to provide surf rescue technicians along the entire beach for all visitors and residents. So rather than have unguarded areas, the number of available lifeguard towers are equally distributed along the beachfront. While nearby beaches in Delaware are unguarded or at Assateague where the guarded area is reduced to just a few blocks.
As this redistribution occurs, the location and distance between stands changes. We will continue to provide coverage from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. along all 10 miles of Ocean City beaches until Sunday, September 25th. This coverage will be done with fewer personnel and lifeguard stands, however, we will supplement this coverage by increasing the number of mobile rescue units patrolling the beach. These mobile units are first aid and AED equipped with one SRT (rider) acting as the primary rescue swimmer while the other SRT (driver) maintains radio communication and backup during an emergency. Both are qualified as surf rescue technicians, medical first responders and are quad (ATV) certified.
Surfing expands to most of the beach
Another difference you may notice during the fall season is where surfing is allowed. OCBP Captain Butch Arbin will modify the ordinance that restricts surfing and allow surfing along the entire beach, except where guards are posted. The Beach Patrol keeps the swimmers in front or near their stand and surfers are encouraged to congregate away from the swimmers. This is a time of the year the surfers enjoy. They can surf while the Patrol is on duty and not be confined to designated surfing beaches like they are during the summer.
Surfers must still utilize an ankle leash and remain 50 yards from the nearest swimmer. Having surfers in the vicinity often proves valuable in saving lives. It is helpful to have the extra flotation devices in the water at this time of year when the coverage is spread over larger spans of beach. It is not unusual for surfers to aid a distressed swimmer and keep them afloat until a surf rescue technician can reach them and take them safely back to shore. Although surfing restrictions have been modified, the Beach Patrol still reserves the right to prohibit surfing in certain areas or under certain conditions. Something new the past couple of years, beginning the Monday following Labor Day, September 12th, stand up paddle boards (SUPs) will be allowed, Monday through Friday during the day. Stand up Paddle boarders must follow all applicable Maryland state boating laws and enter and exit the water away from the areas where we are encouraging people to swim. The use of skim boards and other watercraft (kite surfers, windsurfers, prone paddle boards, kayaks, etc) is still prohibited.
OCBP stays on longer
Even though fall guarding is different than guarding during July, the first priority of the Beach Patrol continues to be public safety. To aide your SRT, the Beach Patrol suggests taking extra precautions and make sure to walk the short distance to the nearest lifeguard stand and check in with the Surf Rescue Technician and always swim near or better yet, in front of the SRT on duty. We strongly encourage all beach patrons to restrict any water related activities to times when Beach Patrol personnel are on duty, never swim alone, always stay with the limits of their ability and never rely on a flotation device.
For additional information, please call Beach Patrol Headquarters. Guard stand placement may relocate daily as conditions change. To locate the closest stand to your beach you may go to the official Beach Patrol website (ococean.com/ocbp) and scroll down to the โBeach Conditionsโ table and click on the stands location link or by calling Beach Patrol Headquarters at 410-289-7556 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
