OAK ISLAND, N.C. (WECT) -As the weather gets warmer, our beaches are getting busier and busier.Ocean Rescue Teams along the coast are also gearing up for tourist season, including on Oak Island.That’s why on the second floor of Oak Island’s Town Hall on Monday, over a dozen people filled out paperwork, took drug screenings, and got new uniforms as part of a full day of training for the town’s beach services and Ocean Rescue Units.“Ocean rescue is the actual guys that will patrol the beach and look...
OAK ISLAND, N.C. (WECT) -As the weather gets warmer, our beaches are getting busier and busier.
Ocean Rescue Teams along the coast are also gearing up for tourist season, including on Oak Island.
That’s why on the second floor of Oak Island’s Town Hall on Monday, over a dozen people filled out paperwork, took drug screenings, and got new uniforms as part of a full day of training for the town’s beach services and Ocean Rescue Units.
“Ocean rescue is the actual guys that will patrol the beach and look for swimmers in distress,” said Oak Island Fire Chief Lee Price. “Whereas the beach services unit focuses on education and enforcement.”
Both teams have been around for three years now but this year they’ll both be under the fire department.
“By bringing it under one roof we feel like it’ll be an enhanced level of service all the way around,” said Price.
After their morning presentations going over beach rules and town ordinances they’ll be enforcing, the Ocean Rescue Unit hit the beach.
“It’s a half-mile run, 500-yard ocean swim and then another half-mile run,” said one of the instructors, Ryan Sigsworth.
Sigsworth has 15 years of ocean rescue experience. He says this training is crucial to make sure their team is prepared for the worst, no matter the conditions.
“The water is 63 degrees and the temperature outside is 74 so it’s going to be chilly and cold but it’s part of the job,” he said.
One of the trainees even got caught in a rip current while swimming, one of the exact scenarios Sigsworth says they’re preparing for.
“When things happen, they happen quickly and you have to always be ready for it,” said Sigsworth.
Overall, both Sigsworth and Price say the group did well and they’ll continue to train to keep everyone safe ahead of another summer season.
“It was a busy year last year. We ran over 60 dispatch calls for ocean rescue, we had 17 life saves and we expect those numbers to probably go up,” said Price.
Instructors say they are still looking for more people to join their Ocean Rescue Unit. If you’re interested, you can learn more by clicking here.
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