End of summer means teachers, students leave early; patrol is innovating
OCEAN CITY — With college sports and other activities starting earlier every season, many young folks who fill an important role in the local workforce are already disappearing from the island.
But while the loss of some teens means only a longer wait for a slice of boardwalk pizza, losing personnel on the Ocean City Beach Patrol leads to fewer beaches where it’s safe to swim and fewer guards to respond when someone is in trouble.
“The decision to close a guarded beach is never one the Ocean City Beach Patrol takes lightly. I personally lose sleep over these decisions because I understand what they mean to the families who count on us and, more importantly, the responsibility we have for the safety of everyone who visits our beaches,” OCBP Chief Erich Becker said. “Our goal is always simple: open as many beaches as we can safely staff and keep them open as long as possible.”
Staffing challenges occur at both ends of the summer, Becker said, noting that many high school- and college-age lifeguards are still in school in June.
“As a result, we gradually open beaches as more guards become available, concentrating first on some of the city’s busiest locations,” Becker said, adding that the OCBP has used the phased approach for decades.
Late summer presents the opposite problem.
“Teachers and college students begin returning to school before Labor Day, while high school students increasingly have sports camps, college orientations and other commitments that require them to leave earlier in August,” Becker said. “When staffing levels decrease, we concentrate our available lifeguards on the busiest beaches and encourage beachgoers to make the walk to the nearest guarded beach.”
This year, the OCBP had 201 personnel on the books, including part-time and full-time lifeguards, EMTs and administrators.
By the Fourth of July weekend, the beach patrol was guarding 41 beaches but from Aug. 10-21, had to close 12 beaches due to staffing shortages. That is four fewer closures than the previous season.
For the upcoming Labor Day weekend, the OCBP traditionally guards the following beaches: St. Charles Place, Eighth Street, Ninth Street, 12th Street, 34th Street and 58th Street. Personal watercraft operators likely will be stationed at St. Charles, 12th Street, 34th Street and 58th Street.
The chief said the OCBP is continually working on ways to improve the situation, such as offering incentives for guards who remain through Labor Day, holding mid-season rookie tryouts, maintaining alternate candidates and expanding the Rapid Response Team to provide additional coverage when staffing becomes tight.
“We have also started a Lifeguard in Training program designed to introduce younger candidates to the beach patrol and encourage more 16-year-olds to become lifeguards,” Becker said. “Recruiting younger guards not only helps build the future of the OCBP, but may also provide us with lifeguards who can remain available later in August.”
Recruiting is now a year-round effort for the OCBP.
“We attend job fairs, advertise our positions, visit schools and look for new ways to introduce young people to lifeguarding,” Becker said.
However, the patrol will not water down its requirements to fill its positions.
“Increasing our numbers cannot come at the expense of our standards,” Becker said.
Becoming an Ocean City lifeguard is demanding. Candidates must meet New Jersey’s swimming and running requirements and maintain required first aid and CPR certifications. In Ocean City, new lifeguards must also complete 40 hours of rookie training before actively guarding a beach.
“That training prepares them for ocean conditions, rescue techniques, equipment, emergency situations and the tremendous responsibility that comes with sitting in a lifeguard stand,” the chief said.
Since need is the mother of invention, the OCBP undoubtedly will find a way to keep its numbers up.
“We will continue looking for new and creative ways to recruit and retain qualified lifeguards and extend beach coverage at both the beginning and end of the summer,” Becker said. “What we will not do is lower the standards required to put someone in a lifeguard stand simply to say that a beach is open.”
The OCBP takes great pride in its long-standing safety record.
“Staffing challenges may change where our guards are stationed throughout the season, but they will never change our first priority: protecting the people who come to enjoy Ocean City’s beaches,” Becker said.
The last scheduled day of beach coverage is Sept. 20.
“Of course, all beach coverage and operating dates are dependent on staffing and weather conditions,” Becker said.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff