Media Availability: Coast Guard, Ocean Rescue Squad to discuss, demonstrate rip current safety

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 06/19/2018 04:07 PM EDT

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, Ocean Rescue Squad to discuss, demonstrate rip current safety

WHO: Personnel from Coast Guard Station Wrightsville Beach and the Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue Squad

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

WHEN: Thursday, June 21, 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Johnnie Mercer's Pier, 23 E. Salisbury St., Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, N.C. — Media are invited to interview Coast Guard and Ocean Rescue Squad members and view demonstrations at Wrightsville Beach on June 21, the official first day of summer.

The event is scheduled to be held on the beach near Johnnie Mercer's Pier at 10:30 a.m.

Station Wrightsville Beach crewmen and ORS 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.

ORS lifeguards have conducted 57 water rescues since May 25, 45 of which were rip current-related. In 2017 there were 12 rip current-related deaths in North Carolina and 113 nationwide.

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-