def #145 07/13/07

WATER SAFETY DAY SET FOR JULY 18TH IN SEASIDE HEIGHTS

SUMMER SAFETY doesn’t start and end with a trip to the beach or a boat outing on the bay.

"Safety - at Home or at the Shore" is the theme of the 7th Annual Water Safety Day on the oceanfront in Seaside Heights.

Sponsored by Ocean County Partnerships in Safety, the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety and the Borough of Seaside Heights, the expo will feature displays and demonstrations from 25 local organizations.

"Summer safety doesn’t mean only boating safety," said Ocean County Freeholder Director John P. Kelly, Director of Law and Public Safety. "We will also be addressing safety on the beach, on the roads, in the backyard and in the home".

This year’s expo will include a simulated water rescue by lifeguards, an underwater search by the Seaside Heights Fire Department, proper fishing techniques demonstrated by the Seaside Heights Fishing Club and the safe handling of foods during hot weather by the Ocean County Health Department.

"During the summer when most people think of safety, they think of swimming or water sports, but there are other dangers that might not be so obvious," Kelly said. "Something as simple as keeping food fresh at a picnic on a hot day can make the difference between a happy summer memory and a trip to the emergency room."

Freeholder James F. Lacey, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Road Department, noted the event also focuses on safety on the roadways.

"We want our residents and visitors to be safe when traveling to our beaches, our parks and recreational areas," Lacey said. "This event is yet another venue where we can stress safety on our roadways."

Weather permitting; a fly-over by the Black Sheep Squadron will be a highlight of the expo. Vessels from the Coast Guard and State Police Marine Unit may be viewed in the ocean.

The safety expo runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, July 18, along the Seaside Heights Boardwalk at the end of Ocean Terrace and Hiering Avenue.

Other groups and organizations expected to attend include: The Ocean County Security Department, the Navy Lakehurst and the Berkeley Township Underwater Rescue Team, the Community Medical Center, U.S. Army, and Jersey Paddler.


to the Ocean County News Page