Media Availability: Coast Guard, Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service to discuss, demonstrate rip current safety

united states coast guard 

Media Availability  

June 19, 2018
U.S. Coast Guard 5th District Mid-Atlantic
Contact: 5th District Public Affairs
Office: (757) 398-6272
After Hours: (757) 434-7712
5th District online newsroom

Coast Guard, Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service to discuss, demonstrate rip current safety

WHO: Personnel from Coast Guard Station Little Creek, Sector Hampton Roads and the Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service

WHAT: Coast Guard and VBLS members will provide interviews on rip currents; VBLS lifeguards will perform simulated rip current rescues

WHEN: Thursday, June 21, 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: Virginia Beach Boardwalk at 16th Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Media are invited to interview Coast Guard and Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service members and view demonstrations at Virginia Beach on June 21, the official first day of summer.

The event is scheduled to be held on the beach near the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier at 11:00 a.m.

Station Little Creek crew members, Sector Hampton Roads personnel and VBLS lifeguards will discuss the dangers of rip currents and provide potentially-lifesaving safety tips.

The lifeguards will also perform simulated rip current rescues to demonstrate best safety practices.

Since Memorial Day Weekend, VBLS lifeguards have conducted nearly 200 water rescues. In 2017, they conducted 425 rescues total.

Coast Guard units throughout the mid-Atlantic have responded to five counts of distressed or missing persons in the water since June 1.

To view a related rip current safety video, click here.

Media interested in attending should contact Petty Officer 2nd Class Corinne Zilnicki at 757-434-7712 or by e-mailing d5de@uscg.mil to RSVP for the event.

 

-USCG-