Future Lifeguards Prep For Safety In Ocean City
OCEAN CITY, Md. (WJZ)--Thousands are celebrating the Memorial Day holiday by heading to Ocean City and the beach patrol is prepping for safety in the water.
Tracey Leong explains what they want you to know before you take a swim.
While it's the unofficial start of summer, it's the official start for beach patrol in Ocean City, as they take to the stands for the first time this weekend.
These future lifeguards are learning life-saving skills, risking their lives in the water if you're ever in danger.
"Our goal is to keep people from getting in trouble in the first place, but if they do get into trouble we want to have well trained staff, enabled to handle any situations that arises. That's why they are going through the rigorous training this week," said Lt. Ward Kovacs, Beach Patrol.
Lieutenant Ward Kovacs advising beach goers to never jump in unless there's a lifeguard on duty.
Leong: "What do you want people to remember when they come to the beach?"
"That we want them to have a really good time, enjoy themselves, but to go home safely, so they'll be able to come back and visit again," Kovacs said.
These men and women going through an intense course so they'll be ready when you take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean.
And for these future lifeguards keeping people safe on the sandy shores is more than just a summer job.
"Got a lot of pride here, spent a lot of time here, really familiar with it, and the lifeguards here always seem to be working really hard and making a lot of saves which is what I want to do," said Zachary Collette, lifeguard in training.
Up to 92 lifeguard posts will be staffed from this weekend until the end of summer.
