The Ocean City Beach Patrol (OCBP) was recently awarded the status of “Nationally Certified Agency” by the United States Lifeguarding Association (USLA) for another three-year term.
The OCBP is one of only 13 beach patrols in New Jersey to achieve national certification. The patrol first earned the honor in 2002 and has been recertified seven times since then.
“This is the result of a lot of hard work by the OCBP management and lifeguards, and it’s something to be proud of,” Mayor Jay Gillian said. “Public safety will always be a top priority in America’s Greatest Family Resort.”
The USLA works to reduce the incidence of death and injury in the aquatic environment through public education, national lifeguard standards, training programs, promotion of high levels of lifeguard readiness, and other means.
In order to receive national certification, a beach patrol must meet certain requirements and standards, including, but not limited to, health and fitness of employees, medical training, and agency policies, as well as successfully passing an on-site inspection.
OCBP Director Allan Karas, who is retired from the Drug Enforcement Agency, said he was proud of the beach patrol.
“Coming from a law-enforcement background, I recognize the importance of an organization achieving certification,” Karas said. “This achievement reflects the hard work of our frontline lifeguards, EMTs and supervisors.”
The Ocean City Beach Patrol will hold a tryout for new lifeguards on Saturday, June 3.
The competitive test will include a 500-meter ocean swim, a 500-meter ocean paddleboard, a one-half-mile beach run, a 500-meter erg and a surf dash.
All candidates also must complete an interview. Candidates must turn at least 16 years old by July 15, 2023, and complete a physical examination before the tryout. For more information, visit www.ocnj.us/ocbp
