By Henry Burnett
Intern
Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue trained local surfers in aquatic emergency preparedness and CPR Thursday, June 11. Jeremy Owens, Wrightsville Beach firefighter and lifeguard captain, said, “We had a great turnout.”
The training covered drowning resuscitation, CPR, first aid, and treatment for cervical spine injuries and major bleeding. The event was free for its 27 attendees, though some made optional donations to WBOR’s fundraising arm.
Owens was especially thankful to D.J. Struntz, social media liaison of North American Rescue Products and local surfer, who coordinated a donation of 13 tourniquets. Ocean rescue previously carried tourniquets, which stop heavy bleeding, on its lifeguard trucks and beach ATVs.
Now, each of WB’s 13 lifeguard stands will also be equipped with a tourniquet to treat major lacerations such as those sustained from a surfboard fin, a boat propeller, or even a shark, Owens said.
Sam Proffitt, medical lieutenant for WBOR, said Thursday’s event was the first formal training for local surfers. He described the surfing community as an extra layer of protection during a crisis on the water.
Unlike lifeguards that only work certain hours during summer months, “these people are out there day in and day out,” Proffitt said.
Jack Viorel, owner of IndoJax Surf School, had more than 15 employees attend the training.
He said ocean rescue’s high standard for safety attracts people to the beach. By preparing his surfers for emergencies, Viorel said he contributes to the safety of his own customers but also to the rest of the beach as a whole.
“The more people trained, the safer the beach will be,” he said.
Sean Griffin, owner of Sean’s Private Surf Instruction, agreed WBOR’s training was important for local surfers.
“I got CPR and first aid certified a couple of months ago, but it wasn’t nearly as informative,” he said.
Griffin, who has encountered first aid situations while surfing, said the emphasis on water-related emergencies was particularly helpful.
Other young surfers, such as Kristen Kinker and Matt Van Der Wal, considered the training necessary in light of recent tragedies.
Van Der Wal described helping a young boy on a boogie board who got trapped in a rip current. Kinker said a drowning last year shocked local surfers and started conversation about better emergency preparedness.
Both Van Der Wal and Kinker thought that rescue skills are meaningful to membership in the local surfing community.
“I feel like [the training] helps me do my part,” Van Der Wal said.
