2003 Annual Report for Ocean Rescue Unit
MEMORANDUM
DATE: January 7, 2004
TO: Mayor and Board of Commissioners
FROM: Assistant Fire Chief
COPIES: Town Manager, Deputy Town Manager, Director of Public Safety
REF: Annual Report of Ocean Rescue Unit for 2003 Beach Season
This annual report, along with the attached statistical data, documents the activities and the operation of the Nags Head Fire & Rescue Division’s, Ocean Rescue Unit for the Year 2003 Beach Season.
Agency Certification
The Nags Head Ocean Rescue Unit remains certified at the “Advanced Agency” status, granted by the United States Lifesaving Association (U.S.L.A.). This certification occurs at three-year intervals. All Ocean Rescue personnel maintained U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S.D.O.T.) First Responder and U.S.L.A. Open Water rescue certifications.
Southern Shores
The Town of Nags Head again provided contracted ocean rescue service to the Town of Southern Shores. The Town’s contractual arrangement with Southern Shores is set to continue for an additional year under the present contract. An end of the season critique was held with the Town of Southern Shores. Southern Shores provided nothing but praise and compliments for the Nags Head Ocean Rescue Unit, our lifeguards and supervisors. Our continued provision of an exceptional level of professional ocean rescue service has resulted in the continuation of our ocean rescue contract with the Town of Southern Shores.
Rescue Activity
The Ocean Rescue Unit provided 12 open water rescues and 22 in-water assists during the 2003 Beach Season compared to 147 open water rescues during the 2002 season. “Red Flags” were posted 19 days (6 days of which were during Hurricane Isabel operations) of 2003 compared to 12.5 days of the 2002 season. Educational advisories, which are a critical part of our beach education, awareness and safe swimmer program, totaled 37,318 during 2003. Nags Head Ocean Rescue personnel also assisted in 52 emergency medical calls during the 2003 beach season. Nags Head Ocean Rescue personnel responded to one (1) drowning incident which involved acute alcohol intoxication that occurred in an ATV patrolled area in Southern Shores.
Public Education
The North Carolina Sea Grant “RIP CURRENT” educational advisory signs, new in 2003, were placed at each Town Beach Access to assist in educating the public. The “Rip Current Recognition, Avoidance, and Self-escape” signs were well received by the public, as was the “Outer Banks Beach Guide” brochure (new in 2002). We plan to utilize these educational tools in upcoming ocean rescue summer seasons as primary educational tools and “Did You Know” guides for residents and visitors to our beaches.
Competition
In July, 2003, the Nags Head Ocean Rescue Unit again took first place in the B-Division (agencies less then 50 employees) and took third place, over all, at the U.S.L.A. South Atlantic Lifeguard Competition held in Virginia Beach, Virginia. A team of Nags Head Ocean Rescue Unit’s female lifeguards participated, for the forth year, in the National Park Service, All-Women’s Lifeguard Competition, held in Sandy Hook, New Jersey where they placed third in their division. In August, 2003, Lifeguard Shane Watson earned national championship recognition in two events at the USLA National Lifeguard Championships held in Cape May, New Jersey. His titles mark the second time that the Nags Head Ocean Rescue Unit has held national honors, the first in 1995 when ex-lifeguard Ann Marie Welch (Andrews) won the 2-mile beach run.
Training
In April 2003, three (3) Ocean Rescue personnel attended the All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Institute “Safe Rider Course”. In May, 2003 the Ocean Rescue Unit hosted Ocean Rescue Systems from Portland, Maine to provide two-days of instruction and certification in “Boat Based and In-Water Rescue Operation” and “Personal Watercraft Operation”. In July, 2003, Captain Hutson attended a Lifeguard Systems “Rapid Deployment Search and Rescue/Recovery (SCUBA) Program earning certification as a Rapid Deployment SAR/R Diver. In November Captain Hutson attended an American Heart Association sponsored Basic Cardio-Life Support - Instructor (BCLS-I) certification course.
Personnel
The Recruitment and retention of qualified ocean rescue lifeguards remains a critical issue, not only for The Town of Nags Head, but also for many other coastal communities. The following reasons have been identified as positive contributors of the Town providing for the Ocean Rescue Unit being able to recruit and retain sufficient numbers of qualified ocean rescue lifeguards and lifeguard supervisors:
Salaries: The Town’s effort to maintain salaries, although low compared to other tourist/seasonal part-time jobs, at a competitive level in comparison to other ocean rescue/lifesaving agencies.
Housing: The Town’s effort in assisting the ocean rescue personnel with securing affordable housing at the Jennette’s Pier site, along with providing the $25.00 per/week housing supplement has contributed immensely as available and affordable housing continues to diminish each year, and the cost of that seasonal rental housing continues to increase.
Equipment
During Fiscal Year 2002/2003, the Ocean Rescue Unit replaced/requisitioned several pieces of equipment including: 1 – Ford F-150 Pickup Truck, 4 – Honda ATV Ranchers, and 3 – Portable Radios, 1 – Automatic External Defibrillator and 1 – compact Automatic External Defibrillator. This equipment has and will continue to serve to provide for a more timely and efficient ocean rescue operational response.
Over all, we experienced another great ocean rescue season during 2003. Ocean Rescue Captain Don Hutson and Lifeguard Supervisors Michael Murray, Ragan Williams, and Chad Motz are to be commended for their leadership, administration and operational skills they have continued to exhibit while leading the Nags Head Ocean Rescue Unit. Also, the Nags Head Ocean Rescue Lifeguards are to be commended for their performance as public safety providers along with their performance as “ambassadors” to the public for the Town.
Ocean Rescue Growth
Beach user populations continues to increase along the entire oceanfront beach. These annual beach patron usage increases are occurring as a result of the unprecedented construction growth of large occupancy rental houses, which is expected to continue to occur from Eighth Street in North Nags Head to McCall Court in South Nags Head.
In addition to the increased beach user populations, our oceanfront beaches continue to become narrowed by the presently occurring erosion rate, as well as by the impact of such storms as Hurricane Isabel and other storms. In the absence of a beach nourishment/re-nourishment program our ability to respond in a timely/effective manner will continue to be negatively impacted by both the increased number of beach users and our narrowing beaches. This impact will be especially noticed in the coming 2004 beach season as the development and erosion trends continue to take place along our Town’s oceanfront beach.
Additionally, the occupancy of Old Nags Head Place and the development of the Jennette’s Pier site as a regional beach access are the two most important areas of interest. The Jennette’s Pier site is now a part of the State of North Carolina Aquarium System. Future plans for the Jennette’s Pier site, while being both exciting and of much importance to Nags Head and the entire Outer Banks, will make this location a high usage destination for both residents and visitors alike. To meet the expected and proven usage of this area, the board elected to act on recommendation and allocated for the placement of a lifeguard in the Jennette’s Pier area at the Gulfstream Beach Access. The placement of a guard at this site not only provided for the betterment of the Ocean Rescue Unit’s operations, but proved to be beneficial to public safety as many rescues were made, and possibly lives saved, as a result of quick recognition by the lifeguard personnel at that location.
Along with the noticeable increase in the beach user population at the Jennette’s Pier location the Hollowell Street/Curlew Street beach accesses have also experienced significant increases in beach user population. In order to continue to provide the level of quality public safety and public service that is synonymous with The Town of Nags Head’s name, I am recommending at this time, for your consideration, that one (1) ocean rescue fixed-lifeguard stand be added to the Ocean Rescue Unit’s program and placed at the Hollowell Beach Access beginning with the 2004 Ocean Rescue Season.
Town Ordinance Change
Last year, upon recommendation of the Department of Public Safety, the Town’s Board of Commissioners adopted the following change to the Town’s Ordinance that regulates/prohibits swimming during dangerous conditions:
Chapter 5: Beaches and Waterways, Article I, Section 5-2(b).
Regarding the definition of “swimming”, the adopted change re-wrote Section 5-2 (b) to read as follows:
(b) “Swimming”, as used in this section, is defined to mean and include any entry into the water of the Atlantic Ocean whether assisted by a raft, float, or other aid or device commonly used, but shall not include any entry assisted by a “surfboard” as defined in this section. “Surfboard”, as used in this section, shall be defined as a fiberglass and foam combination at least five (5) feet in length, having a minimum of one (1) fin and used in conjunction with a leash.
This ordinance change took into account the ever-increasing surfing population here in Nags Head who, over the years, has effected/affected many ocean rescues that resulted in lives being saved during hazardous/rough surf conditions. The adopted change proved to be beneficial during this past summer season, although somewhat mild compared to previous summer seasons, as rescues / assists were effected on various occasions during periods of rough surf.
This Annual Report of the Nags Head Ocean Rescue Unit is provided as information for the Board of Commissioners and the public. Fire & Rescue Division and Ocean Rescue Unit staff is available to answer questions that the Board of Commissioners might have.
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2003 Annual Report for Ocean Rescue Unit
NAGS HEAD OCEAN RESCUE
2003 Season Statistics
Month
/ May / June / July / August / Sept / Oct / Total / GrandActivity / NH / SS / NH / SS / NH / SS / NH / SS / NH / SS / NH / SS / NH / SS / Total
Water Rescues / 1 / 0 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 9 / 3 / 12
In Water Assist / n/a / n/a / n/a / n/a / 12 / 0 / 6 / 0 / 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 22 / 0 / 22
Out of Water Assist / n/a / n/a / n/a / n/a / 2 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 2 / 5
People Assisted / 1 / 0 / 8 / 1 / n/a / n/a / 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 13 / 1 / 14
Watercraft Assisted / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 4 / 1 / 13 / 4 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 22 / 5 / 27
Lost Person/ Search / 2 / 0 / 11 / 4 / 8 / 1 / 24 / 10 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 48 / 15 / 63
EMS Assist / 3 / 1 / 16 / 5 / 22 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 41 / 11 / 52
Near Drowning / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Drowning / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 1
Animal Calls / 6 / 7 / 7 / 3 / 3 / 0 / 18 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 37 / 11 / 48
Ed. Advisories / 876 / 260 / 9740 / 1589 / 8238 / 2079 / 8664 / 2124 / 2528 / 468 / 610 / 142 / 30656 / 6662 / 37318
Beach Closure / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 19 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 21 / same / 21
ER-No Assist Needed / 4 / 0 / 6 / 0 / 7 / 0 / 8 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 25 / 3 / 28
Assist Other Agencies / 2 / 0 / 6 / 0 / 7 / 5 / 5 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 21 / 6 / 27
HAZMAT/ Ordinance / 2 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 3 / 1 / 4
JET SKI COMPLAINTS
Noise / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Improper Operation / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5 / 0 / 5
Too Close (Bch/Swmr) / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 0 / 3
Beach Population / 15070 / 2859 / 116146 / 27190 / 196915 / 48571 / 190530 / 47117 / 25050 / 4785 / 5598 / 1160 / 549309 / 131682 / 680991
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