A Look Back
By Fred Miller
“Finest and Safest Bathing Beach Along the New Jersey Coast” was the headline on the front page of the April 18, 1924, Ocean City Sentinel-Ledger. The article praised the efficiency of the local lifeguards.
“Ocean City’s Beach Patrol, comprised of more than 35 good-looking young college athletes, has for years been noted as one of the best organizations of its kind along the Jersey Coast, and the members of the crew, with their hard-working, energetic and efficient commander, Captain Jack Jernee, are deserving of the praise accorded them. No lives have been lost since Captain Jernee took charge. The beach patrol for the coming season will consist for the most part of young men who were on duty last summer.”
The beach patrol lived up to the pre-season publicity. “Lifeguards Were Busy” was the headline in the Sept. 19, 1924, Sentinel-Ledger. The article began:
“According to the report of Captain Jack G. Jernee, head of the Ocean City Beach Patrol, the members of this organization had a busy time during the season now about closing.”
Thanks to the lifeguards, there were no drownings on protected beaches. The 35 lifeguards rescued 305 people and treated 1,705 individuals for beach-related injuries.
