To the Editor:
Given the number of injuries from beachgoers and the degree of benefit achieved through increased medical staff on beaches, we propose that Cape May County beach patrols should:
1) Encourage more lifeguards to become EMTs and eventually paramedics.
2) Hold EMT training sessions at lifeguard headquarters during the summer.
3) Give EMT students ride-along time, both on the beach and in city street-side ambulances.
4) Invest in more BLS equipment and issue it to newly trained EMTs.
Cross training lifeguards to become EMTs will translate into more people who can treat patients. Holding training sessions after normal business hours and on the beach will require more EMTs and lifeguards to be on site at all times. Similarly, incorporating ride-along time in street-side ambulances and on the physical beach will afford the students a unique opportunity to learn.
Integrating numerous cross-trained lifeguards throughout a city during the peak season can give a victim of a rip current or a beach patron with a medical and/or trauma-related beach emergency an optimal window to be saved. We have proposed the above four points to solve this problem, which we hope will give incentive and direction to lifeguards to become cross-trained as EMTs. This will create more EMTs and more EMTs will lead to more paramedics.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
