Surf City introduces expanded water safety station program

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The Surf City Fire Department has announced the expansion of their water safety stations program to improve beach safety.

The stations will be placed at each public beach access providing beachgoers with essential tools and information for a safe beach experience.

There are 39 public beach accesses within the six miles of beach in Surf City.

In collaboration with the Jack Helbig Memorial Foundation, Eagle Scout Charlie Medlin and his fellow scouts in Surf City Troop 777, the Surf City Fire Department is installing water safety stations which will feature signs that will educate beachgoers on ocean condition flags descriptions, water conditions, emergency procedures, location of station and a rescue floatation can.

The ocean condition flag will update beachgoers on the current water condition while the recue flotation device will be available to bystanders to use in the case of an emergency before emergency personnel arrive.

Each station will also include a QR code that will link to real time beach condition updates from NOAA, NWS and Surf City Ocean Rescue staff.