Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Beach Safety Week in Charleston

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National Beach Safety Week in Charleston, South Carolina, takes place May 23-30, 2011

Every year the United States Lifesaving Association sponsors National Beach Safety Week in an effort to remind beachgoers to use caution in the aquatic environment. The objective of National Beach Safety Week is to make citizens aware of the need to be safe while in and near the water.

This objective stresses the following:

· Learn to swim

· Swim near a lifeguard

· Swim with a buddy

· Check with the lifeguards

· Use sunscreen and drink water

· Obey posted signs and flags

· Keep the beach and water clean

· Learn Rip Current safety

· Enter water feet first

· Lifeguards are your friends

The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission provides lifeguards at the three county beach parks and at the Folly Beach Fishing Pier in an effort to reduce the number of beach accidents. The agency employs around 50 lifeguards to keep the county beach parks at Isle of Palms, Folly Beach and Kiawah Beachwalker safe. Nevertheless, an informed public is essential to maintaining adequate levels of beach and water safety. In conjunction with National Beach Safety Week, the following beach safe demonstrations will be held on Saturday, May 28. Beach-goers and the general public are encouraged to attend and watch these demonstrations. ISLE OF PALMS COUNTY PARK – May 28, 2011 Visit our info table on the dune crossover for beach safety tips. All activities will begin at Stand 11. Beach safety demonstrations will be performed throughout the day. SCHEDULE: 11:30 a.m. – Swim Rescue Scenario 1:30 p.m. – Marine Life Information 3:30 p.m. – Board Rescue Scenario KIAWAH BEACHWALKER PARK – May 28, 2011 Visit our info area on the beach for beach safety tips. All activities will begin at Stand 42. Beach safety demonstrations will be performed throughout the day. SCHEDULE: 11:30 a.m. – Swim Rescue Scenario 1:30 p.m. – Marine Life Information 3:30 p.m. – Board Rescue Scenario FOLLY BEACH COUNTY PARK – May 28, 2011 Visit our info table in front of the Dunes House for beach safety tips. All activities will begin at Stand 32. Beach safety demonstrations will be performed throughout the day. SCHEDULE: 11:30 a.m. – Rescue Scenario 1:30 p.m. – Marine Life Information 3:30 p.m. – Board Rescue Scenario For more information contact Cole Thomas at (843) 886-3863 or cthomas@ccprc.com.

For more about Charleston:

For a list of annual events and festivals in Charleston, SC, click here!

Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival

Charleston CariFest

Spoleto Festival

Lifeguard Competition – Folly Beach, SC

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Baywatch in Real Life

Come watch when Folly Beach turn into a real competition for real lifeguards. David Hasselhoff would probably not qualify for a spot in this tough contest – and I don’t think Pamela Anderson is coming either – but that doesn’t mean it won’t be fun to watch.

Local and regional lifeguards will come together to compete in a challenge that showcases and tests lifesaving skills, the 13th Annual SCRPA Lifeguard Competition, on Friday, June 25.

Organized by Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) and the Mount Pleasant Recreation Department, the day-long event brings together beach, pool and waterpark lifeguards from across South Carolina. The competition is held on behalf of the SCRPA Aquatics Branch with the goal of encouraging guards to improve their lifesaving skills and training.

“The lifeguard competition continues to be a motivating tool for lifeguards throughout South Carolina, giving them the chance to perfect and test their skills against fellow lifeguards,” said Michael Bradley, CCPRC’s Assistant Ocean Access Manager.

Bradley adds that lifeguard teams from across the state are encouraged to sign up. “Participants get the opportunity to have fun and compete in a variety of events in both the pool and ocean settings,” he says.

The competition kicks off at 8:30 a.m. with pool events at the Mount Pleasant Recreation Department’s R.L. Jones Center pool, then moves to Folly Beach County Park around 1 p.m.

Pool events at the R.L. Jones Center feature team competition in both speed races and lifesaving techniques, including Spinal Injury Management, Brick Tow Relay, 50-Yard Sprint, Submerged Deep Water Rescue with CPR, 500-Yard Swim and 100-Yard Relay events. The action-packed beach events on Folly will have teams running in and out of the water as they simulate rescues and compete in fitness tests, including the Run-Swim-Run, One-Mile Run, Beach Flags and Active Rescue events.

An awards ceremony will immediately follow the competition, with awards given to first, second and third-placing teams.

To qualify to compete, all participants must be certified through an accredited agency. Teams must be composed of 3 to 4 members, with at least one male and one female on each team. Entry fees are $50 per team and proof of certification must be furnished with registration.

Competitions are open to the public. For more information call (843) 795-PARK or email mbradley@ccprc.com.