~~~ Vero Beach Lifeguard Association Monthly Beach Report January 2018 ~~~ Vero Vine ~~~ Vero Beach, FL

Our Mission:

To promote lifeguarding and water safety in Vero Beach and the surrounding communities

Email: VeroBeachLA@Yahoo.com

Website: www.VBLA.org

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STATISTICS

Total Park Attendance 40,430

Preventative Actions 735

Minor Medicals 8

Major Medicals 0

Rescues 0

Average Water Temperature 70

Beach Erosion Fluctuating

Stinging Marine Life Moderate

General Conditions

Colder temperatures and windy conditions kept most people off the beach for much of January. There were no reported rip current rescues or major medical emergencies in or outside the lifeguarded parks. Water temperatures are slowly rising into the low 70’s. “Shore break” occurs when waves crash on the shoreline in a few inches of water and a “drop off” is formed when the water depth quickly increases after entering the water. These two conditions are common at our beach. Swimmers should be aware of these potential hazards before entering the water. All swimmers are advised to pay close attention to beach condition signs and flags, swim near lifeguard towers and avoid swimming during non- guarded hours.

Areas of Progress

The City of Vero Beach is restoring the protective dune at Conn and JC beaches. The Humiston protective dune is scheduled to be restored as well. All dune restoration is scheduled to be completed by March 1 st, the start of turtle nesting season.

Areas of Concern

With a heavy shore break along our beaches, some swimmers turn their backs on the large, crashing waves. Serious injury can result using this technique. VBLA recommends swimmers avoid the water during heavy shore break but if you must enter the water, dive or duck under the breaking waves, arms first to avoid head, neck or back trauma. As beach attendance grows, more and more people are outside the guarded areas posing a challenge for lifeguards. Dog owners continue to bring dogs on the beach violating City ordinances. The blue recycle bins have not been placed back on the beach since Hurricane Irma.

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.

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Nikki Kalin

Nikki Kalin literally has the Treasure Coast, especially Vero Beach as her home and her office. Having grown up and educated in Indian River County Nikki works with a deep knowledge to tend Vero Vine with a continual reach into all the communities of the Treasure Coast. She is in the vineyard virtually every day. Following its growth, nurturing start-ups, longtime roots, and branches of businesses, non-profits, municipalities, and everyday people. Nikki makes certain Vero Vine is connected.

The “real world” is Vero Beach Marketing where Nikki was recruited and is being mentored by Creative Director/ Owner, Stacy Cook. Nikki’s daily efforts include website management, email marketing, newsletter development, and most notably social engagement. Nikki has been instrumental in the deployment for the last two years of the “VeroBeach Marketing Summit” coordinating scheduling for regional and local experts in the digital space. In 2018 Nikki was responsible for the Email Marketing break out session, presenting her experience and insights to an audience of local businesses and professionals.

All of this is on behalf of local business clients and Vero Vine contributors. Nikki curates the good news about events, philanthropic happenings, and all the adventures in the Paradise of Vero Beach and the Treasure Coast. Updating Vero Vine, Vero Beach Foodie, and all of their client’s websites and Socials Nikki Kalin makes sure that the world has everything on Vero Vine within reach.