Monthly Beach Report – August 2016

Vero Beach Lifeguard Association

August Beach Report

Jaycee Park / Humiston Park / South Beach Park

 

Statistics

Total Park Attendance: 45,287
Preventative Actions: 1,069
Minor Medicals: 39
Major Medicals: 2
Rescues: 0
Average Water Temperature: 82
Beach Erosion: Minimal
Stinging Marine Life: Moderate

General Conditions

With local schools back in session, attendance at our beaches has been down. Hot and humid conditions has made the beach a pleasant escape from the weather, however, thunderstorms and rain have chased people off the beach by mid-afternoon on many occasions. Bait fish, tarpon and manatees have been a frequent sight just off shore. Surfcasting fisherman have taken up position on the beach on most days. Sea turtle hatchlings have been numerous.

Large surf has created a substantial drop off (the sudden increase in water depth) at most beaches. There were no rip current rescues in August keeping the number of rip current rescues in 2016 to 20. Most minor medical calls have been for jellyfish stings and abrasions. Most major medical calls have been for heat related injuries. All swimmers are advised to pay close attention to beach condition flags, swim near lifeguard towers and avoid swimming during non-guarded beach hours.

Areas of Concern

Sea turtle hatchlings have been spotted on numerous occasions during daylight hours. If you encounter a struggling hatchling during daylight hours please wrap it in a moist towel and bring it to a lifeguard tower. Lifeguards will contact Sea Turtle Research. When hatchlings emerge from the sand they may mistake light from dwellings as the moon and travel inland rather than to the ocean. If you live on the beach, please comply with light pollution ordinances. A severe drop off of up to 5 feet has been created at most beaches. The elderly and parents with young children should pay close attention to where the drop off begins.

VBLA recommendations for safer beaches: 1. Provide an ATV at each guarded beach to allow for faster response times by lifeguards during emergencies. 2. The City should extend guarded beach hours to 7pm from the current time of 5pm to keep up with the rising popularity of Vero's beaches.

Many individuals and families are on the beach far from a guarded area and/or in the water after lifeguards leave at 5pm. Providing additional equipment and extended hours will help address the safety issues that have resulted in two preventable deaths at our beaches in 2015.

Key

Park Attendance: includes areas immediately north and south of each park Preventative Actions: stopping potential incidents before they occur Minor Medicals: a medical incident which is treated on-site by lifeguard/EMT personnel Major Medicals: a medical incident that required Emergency Medical Services

About VBLA

This report is furnished by the Vero Beach Lifeguard Association, a non-profit, 501C3 organization. Its mission is to promote water safety and lifeguarding in Vero Beach and the surrounding communities. Contact us at VeroBeachLA@Yahoo.com or (908)797-8725. Visit us at www.VBLA.org. Donations are appreciated. Monies raised are used to purchase equipment, supplies, staffing and training for the lifeguards from the city of Vero Beach. Please send donations to: VBLA, 1351 White Heron Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32963.