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Lifeguard urges beachgoers to ‘know before you go’ at Outer Banks beaches
Summary
Bree Young, a surf instructor and Outer Banks lifeguard, urged beachgoers to respect shorebreaks and follow simple safety steps—check forecasts, swim near lifeguards, and use an "over-under" technique—to reduce risks of neck and back injuries and drowning.
Bree Young, a surf instructor and Outer Banks lifeguard, told meeting attendees that "the power of the ocean deserves everyone's respect" and urged beachgoers to take simple precautions to avoid shorebreak injuries.
Young said the force of shorebreak waves can catch swimmers off guard, "driving them into the sand, causing neck and back injuries, and in some cases, even drowning." She characterized these incidents as largely preventable and recommended that visitors "know before you go and check your local beach forecast before you head out."
Young gave concrete, local advice aimed at reducing risk: always swim near a lifeguard, be mindful of incoming waves even at the water's edge, and adopt the "over-under" approach in the surf—"Little wave we go over, larger wave we go under," she said. She closed by urging people to "live like a local" and to "love the beach and respect the ocean."
Her remarks were delivered as a short public comment/presentation intended to raise awareness among beach visitors; no formal action or vote was recorded in connection with the comments.
