Delray Beach Ocean Rescue Division named Beach Patrol of the Year

On December 17, 2008, the Florida Beach Patrol Chiefs Association awarded the 2008 Beach Patrol of the Year designation to Delray Beach Ocean Rescue. Since 1993, the award has been given to the top Ocean Rescue Agency in the State of Florida. This will be the unprecedented 4th time Delray Beach Ocean Rescue has received this honor. Criteria for winning the award includes: level of certification and training, professionalism, community involvement and education, contributions to ocean lifesaving, and agency achievements for the year.

Delray Beach Ocean Rescue will receive the award at the 2008 Florida Surf Lifesaving Awards Banquet on March 20, 2009, held at the Delray Beach Golf Club. The awards banquet is presented by the Florida Beach Patrol Chiefs Association and the United States Lifesaving Association/Southeast Region. Additional awards and recognition will be given for the efforts and achievements of the State of Florida’s Ocean Lifeguards for protecting the over 60 million visitors to Florida’s beaches this past year.

The Beach Chiefs Association was formed in 1983 to promote professionalism within Florida’s ocean lifesaving agencies.  The founding members recognized the need for increased cooperation and communication among Florida’s professional ocean lifeguards.  Worthwhile projects began to emerge from the ‘Chiefs’ including public education, promoting legislation related to ocean lifesaving, and raising standards of training and certification. The “Lifeguard of the Year” and “Beach Patrol of the Year” awards were created to honor the best lifeguards and lifeguard agencies in the State of Florida.