Atlantic Beach Rescue responds to the calls for help

Atlantic Beach Rescue pilot Steve Patterson powered up the 28-foot Brunswick boat and the dual 250-horsepower Mercury Verado engines roared to life as he drove away from the dock and headed into the Rockaway Channel on Oct. 26.

Patterson, pilot David Weinberger and longtime member Nat Etrog explained how the all-volunteer squad uses the boat and will use its new equipment to effect water rescues. Patterson, an ex-capt., maneuvered the boat by Beach 9th Street in Far Rockaway.

“Between Beach 2nd and Beach 9th streets is where we train,” he said, as he kept a steady hand on the throttle. Patterson, Etrog and Weinberger all pointed to the two high-definition screens that are part of the new forward-looking infrared camera and Garmin integrated system that will help detect and locate people in the water. The infrared camera detects body heat.

“It’s really cool,” Assistant Chief Jonathan Kohan said regarding the system. “Using a transducer, it looks for signs of a human body like a fish finder. It’s a great tool. Very few agencies have it.”

The system and a Mercury engine for the surf boat, which is also used for water rescues, was purchased through a $10,000 grant obtained by County Legislator Denise Ford (R-Long Beach).

The squad provides advanced life support and rescue services, and mutual aid to the United States Coast Guard, the Fire Department of New York, the New York Police Department and all the Five Towns fire departments and Long Beach. Atlantic Beach Rescue was named Nassau County’s Emergency Medical Service Agency of the Year for 2018.

“I just gave the funding, but what you do it’s impressive,” Ford said, at an informal gathering at the rescue squad’s Atlantic Beach headquarters, also on Oct. 26, to thank her for the money. “You are professionals.” Running for re-election, Ford is being challenged by Democrat Jeffrey Saxon. Arnie Geller, another longtime squad member, who handles administrative duties, helped shepherd the grant from beginning to end.

Squad members need to be of professional caliber as the roughly 40-member unit typically responds to more than 200 calls during what Etrog called their “100 busiest days” from Memorial Day to Labor Day as Atlantic Beach is a shore community and thisclose to Rockaway Channel and the Atlantic Ocean, but in the summer the beach clubs attract upwards of 15,000 more people to the area. “The bulk of our calls, 75 percent, are from Memorial Day to Labor Day,” Etrog said. “This year we had 220 calls. In September there were 24 and in October 15, so far.”

On the boat, Etrog, Patterson and Weinberger, explained why people drown or have trouble swimming in the Rockaway Channel, especially at night. “The water is two to three feet deep right off the shore and very quickly goes down in depth,” Patterson said.

In July, Keylon Ramsay, 28, and Umarie Chamble, 25, both of Inwood, apparently drowned in the water at Beach 9th Street and Seagirt Boulevard in Far Rockaway. There were several other similar incidents during the summer, along with a water rescue of a man by multiple departments on Oct. 25.

The words of Councilman Donovan Richards, who represents Far Rockaway, should be heeded. “Every summer we encounter drownings at this location on the beach,” he tweeted after Ramsay and Chamble were found dead. “Please be careful and please avoid swimming without lifeguards.” Atlantic Beach Squad members second that sentiment.