By Camryn Schultheis
Ocean City’s population swells from 12,000 to approximately 150,000 during the busy summer season. With many of the transient population beachgoers, beach safety is top priority. Fortunately, the Ocean City Beach Patrol, OCBP, is here to help the community stay safe this season.
Allan Karas, OCBP Head of Operations has been working hard these past couple months to prepare the patrol. “I put our staff on in mid-April to start the vital work of readying vehicles, getting rescue equipment ready, and re-qualifying lifeguards and EMTs. A lot goes into the back-office operations to make the whole thing work,” Karas said.
During the summer season, the OCBP staff consists of 190 members. The OCBP is one of the largest beach patrol operations in New Jersey and the largest department in Ocean City.
Although Karas is fairly new to the patrol, he has made effective changes to improve community safety and recruitment. “Since I took over running the beach patrol in 2021, we have made a concerted effort to invest in our personnel. We have improved the communication and transparency of our management. We have spread out the training and unique detail opportunities, provided resiliency training, and implemented a peer support program,” Karas said.
“Focusing on our people and the City’s investment in our equipment and infrastructure led to better recruitment and retention. I spent most of my life in a career in law enforcement, and taking care of our people from a management perspective was the key to success in all areas of the job,” Karas said.
OCBP performed over 500 rescues last year. All of these rescues occurred throughout the island. “Because of our advanced Jet Ski program, we also respond to calls for service in both inlets and even at the Dog Beach in EHT,” Karas said.
The downtown area often has a lot of first-time visitors to the ocean. Along with the jetties and pipes, this presents some challenges, but the sea can be complex, even for experienced beachgoers.
Even though the beaches will be guarded throughout the summer it is important that the community is aware of how to stay safe this busy summer season. Always swim in front of the lifeguard stand and between the posted green flags. Never fight the rip current. You will just tire yourself out. Try to swim with the rip and let the waves push you in. Float if necessary.
“Be respectful of the power of the ocean. Talk to the lifeguards about any special circumstances, storms, tides, etc,” Karas said.
The OCBP began guarding the beaches on Saturday, May 25 for the 2024 season. To stay safe, make sure to swim at a guarded beach. EMT services will be available at 1st Street, 12th Street, 34th Street, and 58th Street. OCBP will add more guarded beach locations as staff becomes available during June.
To contact OCBP about questions regarding beach safety and which beaches are guarded call 609-525-9200.
