Media Availability: Coast Guard, lifeguards to discuss, demonstrate rip current safety

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 06/25/2019 04:14 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

Media Availability  

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, lifeguards 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 27, 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Johnnie Mercers Fishing 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 Thursday morning.

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

Station Wrightsville Beach crew members 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.

According to the National Weather Service, so far in 2019 there have been seven rip current-related deaths in North Carolina and 28 nationwide.

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-