Junior lifeguards learn from the best
Beach Safety
Jeremy Owens, captain of Wrightsville’s ocean rescue
squad, demonstrates a Jet Ski rescue with a camp participant
during the June 25-29 session of the Wrightsville Beach
Ocean Rescue Junior Lifeguard Program. With Ocean Rescue,
Wrightsville Beach Parks & Recreation holds two of the highly
popular camps each summer, on the beach strand north
of Crystal Pier at Public Beach Access No. 36/near stand 11.
The program, created by Owens, maintains a ratio of one
lifeguard to five campers. In a junior version of the same
training the town’s squad goes though, the junior lifeguards,
ages 9-17, participate in mock rescues and learn CPR and first-aid
techniques, while also learning water and sun safety and
skill-training games including running in soft sand, water entry,
getting through surf, rolling victims onto paddleboards, and
a buddy swim around Crystal Pier with rescue buoys.
Photo by ALLISON POTTER
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WBM august 2018
