By Lauren Wanko
Correspondent
With the sound of a whistle, a lifeguard heads into the ocean for the daily Belmar Beach Patrol rookie training.
“People think that lifeguarding is all fun and games, but the public’s safety is in our hands,” said Belmar Beach Patrol Lifeguard Supervisor Ray Elms.
As the morning sun heats up the beach, lifeguards start with the torp drill. It’s a flotation device that helps the victim stay afloat and is used to bring them to shore. In this exercise, some of the lifeguards play the role of the victim while others practice the rescue. Oftentimes if the lifeguard and swimmer get caught in a rip current,the beach patrol pulls out the line.
“The line helps both the lifeguard and the victim get in on rough water. The line is attached to the lifeguard, he goes out and he grabs the lifeguard with the torp and the victim and then there are a couple lifeguards on the sand. They help pull those people through the surf,” Elms said.
Earlier this week the Belmar Beach Patrol rescued about 25 swimmers in a single day.
“You don’t know how many fatalities that could be if no lifeguards are here,” Elms said.
If you’re caught in a rip current, Elms says swim parallel to the shore.
“If you try to fight the rip you’re just gonna get exhausted. Even accomplished swimmers cannot fight the rip,” Elms said.
Every day, 40 to 45 Belmar lifeguards patrol the 1.3 mile stretch of beach.
Nearby, at the borough’s First Aid Squad, their water rescue team is on-call 24/7 year-round.
“We respond very much like a first aid squad would if someone was in trouble on the beach or any of the bodies of water, they call 911 and then we would be activated,” said Brian Wilton.
Lake Como Mayor and Belmar Water Rescue Team member Wilton says the all-volunteer group formed in the mid-1990s in response to a number of after-hour drowning deaths along the shore.
“We’ve actually seen it all,” Wilton said.
From distressed swimmers to car and boat accidents. Right after Superstorm Sandy struck, the team evacuated and rescued more than 200 people.
“Unfortunately people just didn’t anticipate the size and scope of the flood waters and decided to remain in their homes,” Wilton said.
The rescue team’s armed with life-saving equipment — everything from torps to scuba gear.
“A swimmer in distress can unfortunately escalate to a missing swimmer,” Wilton said.
The Belmar Water Rescue Team is committed to ensuring their volunteers are as safe as the people they’re saving. This is where this rescue boat comes into play. It’s used to assist volunteers in the ocean if needed and for patrol during water events.
Wilton hopes the boat won’t be needed over the holiday weekend. Back on the beach, the lifeguards anticipate even more beachgoers. Their message to the swimmers — they’ll be watching.