Key Information To Know About Ocean Rip Currents

the beach patrol provides, the NWS can provide rip current forecasts and daily advisories for the public

OCEAN CITY – The Ocean City Beach Patrol has been actively trying to educate people about the hazards of rips currents much longer than the 20 years I have been on the patrol Our lifeguards talk to beach patrons several times each day and do beach safety seminars explaining rip currents and their dangers Every one of our lifeguard chairs has a diagram and explanation of rip currents, and we periodically hand out pamphlets about rip currents

In addition, the Ocean City Beach Patrol has been actively involved with the National Weather Service (NWS) and provides updated rip current data several times each day to the NWS With the data

The beach patrol has used an array of other methods to educate the public about rip currents For example, there is often information on the Ocean City Convention Center’s electronic billboard, the sign entering Ocean City at the Route 90 Bridge, as well as the Boardwalk The NWS has also beefed up its public information on its website

Rip currents are relatively small-scale surf-zone currents moving away from the beach Rip currents form as waves disperse along the beach causing water to become trapped between the beach and a sandbar or other underwater feature Water converges into a narrow, river-like channel moving away from the shore at high speed To protect yourself from the dangers of rip currents, you need to fully understand them To do this, you first need to be able to identify them The next time you are on the beach, ask your lifeguard to point out a rip current to you and explain it Seeing it for yourself will prove to be a valuable opportunity Rip currents are without question the biggest hazard present on the beach For many years rip currents were the third leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U S , but a few years ago they moved up to the second leading cause Heat related deaths remain the leading cause (over 30 years)

Although the beach patrol performs between 2,000 and 4,000 in-water interventions (rescues) each year, most of these are minor and in many more cases the surf rescue technician simply uses their whistle and flags to direct the swimmer out of the rip current without incident or any further action Beach patrons should always consult with the surf rescue technician about ocean conditions including rip current activity and the best place to swim

If you start to feel the effects of a rip current, do not panic, and to escape the pull of the rip current you should always swim parallel to shore and not try to fight the current Once you no longer feel the pull, you should swim back into shore People often make the mistake of swimming straight in against the current (rip currents can flow faster than an Olympic swimmer can swim) in a panicked state which can lead to exhaustion Therefore, many people who have died in a rip current do know how to swim and in some cases are actually good swimmers If you ever find yourself in an uncomfortable situation in the ocean, stay calm, wave your arms, and the surf rescue technician will assist you to safety However, when people ignore our plea to never enter the ocean when the beach patrol is off duty, they are making a potentially deadly mistake

To get current information about the beach patrol, daily stand locations, stats, and current beach conditions, you can follow the beach patrol on Instagram or “like us” on the official OCBP Facebook page We can’t wait to be a part of your wonderful experiences in Ocean City, because we are glad you are here, and always remember, “Keep your feet in the sand until the lifeguard’s in the stand!”

Captain’s Note: Rip current deaths are on pace to reach record numbers this year, with the National Weather Service reporting, nearly all of them occurring along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts This year, there have been more rip current related drowning deaths than in any recent years in the U S In Panama City Beach, Fla , there were six deaths in a 10-day period and yes, we had one in Ocean City, three weeks before guards were on duty for the season Heat-related deaths remain the leading cause (over 30 years), but rip currents are more deadly than tornados, hurricanes or cold If you question the seriousness of this threat, then just take a moment to realize that not all states could even contribute to this statistic because not all states have ocean beaches So being the second or third leading cause of weather-related death is quite significant

Already this summer there have been 1,375 rescues in Ocean City, with over 95% as a result of rip currents Nationally there have been 70 deaths through July 27 this season compared with 69 during all of 2022 and the 10-year average is 71 deaths Believe it or not, even the Great Lakes have rip currents

(The writer has been with the beach patrol for 19 years and is currently a sergeant. He is a physical education teacher for the Worcester County Public School system )

Funding Recipient

SALISBURY – TEDCO (Maryland Technology Development Corporation) recently named Salisbury University’s Dave and Patsy Rommel Center for Entrepreneurship among the inaugural recipients of Maryland Makerspace Initiative Program funding

“This award will help us to expand the impact of the Rommel Center and reach new communities of makers, artists, and entrepreneurs,” said Michael Jensen, SU executive director of entrepreneurship

The program was founded in an effort to encourage the growth of makerspaces throughout the state The first round provides 20 projects, spanning 11 counties and Baltimore City, grants up to $100,000 for the establishment of a new makerspace, the expansion of a makerspace or the development of programming for a makerspace

“The center ’s makerspace expansion involves the creation and facilitation of new makerspace programming, a makerspace program lead that allows for the expansion of weekend and evening hours, and new maker materials and marketing resources to support the programming, projects and awareness of the makerspace opportunities available to SU and community members,” said Bryan Bourdeau, assistant director of the center

Potential new programming includes workshops and activities designed for youth and seniors, a maker-in-residence program, community showcases and exhibitions, and entrepreneurship and business development

Board Appointment

SALISBURY – Meredith Mears, senior advisor with SVN Miller Commercial Real Estate, has recently been appointed to the board of Hudson Behavioral Health

Hudson Behavioral Health is a residential addiction treatment program on the Eastern Shore According to their website, “We remain focused on providing quality care and developing programs to individuals that address all of our patient’s needs ”

Mears is well known for her depth of volunteer service in our community, directly through her philanthropy and through her volunteer service on several boards of directors including Leadership Maryland, 1 Year to Empowerment, Maryland Capital Enterprises, and others Mears also served as regent of the University System of Mary-