For the volunteers of Atlantic Beach Rescue, responding to emergencies on the water is more than a responsibility. It is a way to combine their love of the ocean with their commitment to helping their neighbors.
Every member is a volunteer. There are no paid positions, and the department is always looking for residents willing to give their time, train and respond when someone is in trouble.
For Carl Schulman, who has been a member for 25 years and is a former lieutenant, his connection to the department goes back to his desire to serve following the Sept. 11 attacks.
“I always liked the water, but for me, it was 9/11,” Schulman said. “I was downtown with my wife, right next to the Trade Center, and I always wanted to give back.”
Schulman also helped bring the department’s current rescue boat to Atlantic Beach. About 15 years ago, the department received a grant, and Schulman traveled to Daytona Beach, Florida, to inspect the boat before it was purchased.
“This is approximately 15 years old,” he said. “Obviously, it works much better than what we had. You can go anyplace, do anything.”
The boat is equipped with thermal imaging, radar and sonar and can travel approximately 50 mph. It also carries advanced life support equipment.
Rescue Capt. Alec Squeri, said the boat has become an important part of the department’s ability to reach people quickly.
“We take the boat to all different types of water emergencies,” he said.
The boat typically carries two to four rescuers. The water team has also grown to include two jet skis equipped with rescue slides, as well as a smaller inflatable rescue boat that can be deployed for flooding and other situations.
“I’m very lucky to have Chief Danny Hamelburg and Assistant Chief Anthony Rivelli at the helm of this operation,” he said. “They have a lot of experience doing this professionally and as volunteers, and we’re extremely grateful.”
Alec and his twin brother, Max Squeri, have both been members for 13 years. Their connection to the water began long before they started responding to emergencies.
“We grew up fishing, running from the ocean to the bay to the ocean,” Alec said. “We love the ocean. It’s one of the things that shaped us into who we are and into different types of watermen.”
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For Alec, volunteering provides a chance to turn that lifelong passion into something meaningful.
“Being able to blend our favorite hobby with community service is really enjoyable,” he said.
Max said the close-knit nature of the community makes the work even more personal.
“You also might know the person that you’re rescuing,” he said. “It’s this whole tight-knit community with Long Beach and here.”
When a call comes in, however, there is little time to think about who might be waiting for help.
“Every call is different,” Max said.
The team first gathers as much information as possible and determines what resources are necessary. The jet ski is often sent first because it is faster and requires fewer people, while the larger boat follows as support. At night, the boat is often the preferred response.
“You try to get the jet ski out first because of speed,” Max said. “It’s less people to staff it, and then the bigger boat will come as support.”
One of the most dangerous areas is the East Rockaway Inlet, particularly on the Rockaway side, according to Max.
“It’s probably one of the most dangerous places that anybody can swim on the whole South Shore,” he said. “Luckily, we’ve been able to snatch a couple people out of the water there before they get sucked out.”
Nat Etrog, a commissioner and former captain, said water emergencies often begin with a search.
“If there’s a suspected drowning, what you do in the water is a search and rescue,” Etrog said.
Harrison Goldmintz, a medical lieutenant and nine-year member, said the medical component of a water rescue is just as important as getting someone out of the water.
“There’s always multiple ambulances assigned to an incident,” he said. “We’re in the business of saving lives.”
Even when an emergency appears minor, Goldmintz said rescuers conduct a full evaluation because injuries and hypothermia may not be immediately apparent.
“Just because you can walk away doesn’t mean that you’re perfectly fine,” he said.
The challenges of water rescue extend beyond the emergency itself. Conditions can change constantly, from weather and waves to currents and boat traffic.
“There’s always a difference in the victim, the weather, our personnel,” he said.
For the volunteers, that unpredictability is part of what keeps them prepared.
“You never know what you’re going to get,” Schulman said. “You have to remember, you’re not on land. The boat is always moving.”
For people like Schulman, the Squeri brothers, Etrog and Goldmintz, Atlantic Beach Rescue has become more than an organization. It is a community of volunteers united by their love of the water and a willingness to help someone in their most vulnerable moment.
“There’s not really a season,” Max said. “But there’s a busy time here for sure.”
