Ocean City, Maryland – The Ocean City Beach Patrol is reminding residents and visitors that the first day of patrol begins on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Ocean City’s 10 miles of beautiful beach will be guarded from May 29, 2021 until Sunfest weekend, October 3, 2021.
Although beach patrol activities are taking place throughout town before Memorial Day Weekend, including the 2021 Surf Rescue Academy, the beach will not be guarded until surf rescue technicians take their stands on May 29. Until then, the patrol is working hard to gear up for the summer, the first training academy began this past Sunday, May 23, 2021, and the second academy begins, Sunday, June 20, 2021.
Starting May 29, the beach patrol will be on duty every day from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. At 5:25 p.m., lifeguards will begin signaling beachgoers out of the ocean. This is the OCBP’s way of letting visitors know that guards are going off duty and all water-related activities should cease until 10 a.m. the next day. “We continue our efforts to educate the public, warning them of the dangers of swimming on unguarded beaches,” said Beach Patrol Captain Butch Arbin. “We do whatever it takes to make sure people leave the ocean before we make that last turn to the west, leaving our beaches for the night.”
Although the temperatures are warming, the OCBP urges beach patrol urges visitors to stay out of the water during unguarded times. “Remember our saying,” Arbin continued. “Keep Your Feet in the Sand until the Lifeguard’s in the Stand.”
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~ Ocean City, MD