Registration Open for January 24-March 14 North Myrtle Beach Ocean Rescue Junior Lifeguard Program

Registration is open for the City's January 24-March 14 Ocean Rescue Junior Lifeguard program. All classes are at the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center.

The program focuses on people ages 10-15 who enjoy the beach and ocean, and who would like to learn water safety and lifesaving skills, including CPR, while also participating in fun games and activities. For successful participants, the program can also offer a path to eventual seasonal employment as one of the city's Ocean Lifeguards (age 16-plus).

The North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department sponsors the program and Beach Patrol Officers teach the classes. Several trained and experienced Ocean Lifeguards also assist in teaching the program.

Participants engage in fun, physical exercises that encourage them to work in teams, build confidence, and learn lifesaving skills.

All classes are at the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center (AFC) from 6:45pm to 8:15pm.

PRETEST REQUIREMENT: Saturday, January 19, 3:00pm at the AFC. All participants who have not previously completed the course and are not on a swim team must perform a 50-yard (two laps of the pool) swim test to demonstrate swimming ability. Participants do not have to be fast swimmers, but must be comfortable enough in the water in order to ensure a safe and fun learning environment.

Lesson 1 (January 24) – All Lessons are 6:45pm-8:15pm

Welcome and Orientation, Recognizing Emergencies, Victim Recognition, Lifeguard Equipment, Reaching Assists

Lesson 2 (January 29)

Knowing your Environment, RID Factor, Surveillance and Scanning, Throwing Assists

Lesson 3 (January 31)

General Procedures, Entering the Water, Entries and Approaches

Lesson 4 (February 5)

Procedures for an Emergency, Primary Assessment

Lesson 5 (February 7)

Emergency Action Plan, Rescues at or Near the Surface

Lesson 6 (February 12)

Educating Others, Conflict Resolution, FIND Model, Injury Prevention, Submerged Victim Shallow Water

Lesson 7 (February 14)

Walking Assist, Two Person Removal from Water, Escapes

Lesson 8 (February 19)

Conscious Choking, Ventilations, Unconscious Choking

Lesson 9 (February 21)

The Cardiac Chain, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, Using an Automated External Defibrillator

Lesson 10 (February 26)

Facility Safety Check, Preparation for Shadowing, Currents

Lesson 11 (February 28)

Handling Difficult Situations, Aquatic Hazards,

Lesson 12 (March 5)

First Aid, Secondary Assessment

Lesson 13 (March 7)

Head, Neck and Back Injuries

Lesson 14 (March 12)

Survival Floating, Preparation for Shadowing, Skills Review

Lesson 15 (March 14)

Course Review, Written Assessment, Final Skills

The cost for the program is $25, which includes a backpack, rash-guard swim shirt, and a Junior Lifeguard manual.

To learn more about the program, please call the City’s Beach Patrol at 843-281-3819.

Register for the Junior Lifeguard Program at the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center, 1100 2nd Avenue South.

North Myrtle Beach Fire Department is Collecting Items for the Sea Haven Youth Homeless Shelter

Throughout January, the North Myrtle Beach Fire Department is collecting coats, hats and gloves for the Sea Haven Youth Homeless Shelter

Throughout January, the North Myrtle Beach Fire Department is collecting coats, hats, gloves and socks for the Sea Haven Youth Homeless Shelter. The items can be new or in good used condition.

Please bring your items to any North Myrtle Beach fire station.

North Myrtle Beach Fire Station Locations

-- Station 1 - 1015 2nd Avenue South

-- Station 2 - 307 Sea Mountain Highway

-- Station 3 - 803 33rd Avenue South

-- Station 4 - 5345 Little River Neck Road

-- Station 5 - 4740 Barefoot Resort Bridge Road.

For more information, please contact Firefighter/EMT Aaron Asbury at 843-280-5511.

2019 City of North Myrtle Beach Citizens Academy Applications Now Available

 The City of North Myrtle Beach is now accepting applications for its 2019 Citizens Academy from North Myrtle Beach residents who wish to participate. Participation in the academy is free.

The first meeting of Citizens Academy participants will be Thursday, January 10 at 2:00 p.m. at City Hall.

The deadline for submitting applications is January 4 at 5:00 p.m.

The 2019 North Myrtle Beach Citizens Academy will expose participants to all facets of North Myrtle Beach government, and will include tours of key City facilities.

The schedule for North Myrtle Beach Citizens Academy meetings is as follows:

• January 10, 2:00p.m.-4:00 p.m. – Focus on City Manager, overview of major projects, current issues facing the City. Tour of the City’s public safety facility.
• January 17, 2:00p.m.-4:00 p.m. – Focus on Public Works Department – water, wastewater, streets, storm water, and sanitation. Tour of pump station and water tank facilities at Little River Neck Road and tour of water tank facility at Main Street.
• January 24, 2:00p.m.-4:00 p.m. – Continued focus on Public Works Department – water, wastewater, streets, storm water, and sanitation, support services. Tour of the solid waste transfer station and wastewater treatment plant.
• January 31, 2:00p.m.-4:00 p.m. – Focus on Parks & Recreation Department – athletics, sports tourism, grounds maintenance, programs, events, Aquatics & Fitness Center, Keep North Myrtle Beach Beautiful, beach services. Tour of the Aquatic & Fitness Center.
• February 7, 2:00p.m.-4:00 p.m. – Continued focus on Parks & Recreation – athletics, sports tourism, grounds maintenance, programs, events, Aquatics & Fitness Center, Keep North Myrtle Beach Beautiful, beach services. Tour of NMB Park & Sports Complex.
• February 14, 2:00p.m.-4:00 p.m. – Focus on Planning & Zoning, Human Resources, Finance, and Information Technology Departments.
• A Graduation Ceremony will occur at a City Council Meeting.

For more information: City Clerk Merideth Smith at (843) 280-5604 or mjsmith@nmb.us. To access the application online, go to www.nmb.us and, under "Press Releases" on the homepage, download or print the Citizens Academy news release.

December 17 North Myrtle Beach City Council Executive Session and Meeting Agenda

The North Myrtle Beach City Council will hold a December 17, 6:45 p.m. Executive Session and a 7:00 p.m.Meeting at City Hall, 1018 Second Avenue North.

To access the agenda, please follow this link:https://tinyurl.com/yaf8z5fkor visit www.nmb.us and look under "Agendas" or "Press Releases" on the home page.

PLEASE NOTE: Anyone requiring an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication or participation should contact 843-280-5555 as soon as possible but no later than 24 hours before the meeting.

State Champion North Myrtle Beach Volleyball Team Recognized at December 3 City Council Meeting

uring their December 3 meeting, the members of the North Myrtle Beach City Council congratulated the North Myrtle Beach High School Girls Varsity Volleyball Team for having won the Class 4A State High School Volleyball Championship.

 PHOTO: L-R: City Manager Mike Mahaney, Mayor Marilyn Hatley, State Volleyball Champs, Coach Alex Sing.

Coached by Alex Sing, the Lady Chiefs completed a perfect season. What makes their winning the State Championship even more impressive is that the team lost almost four weeks of practice and competition due to Hurricane Florence, while other teams did not.

More than three-quarters of the 2018 team will be returning to play next year. We all look forward to the Lady Chiefs being very competitive in 2019!

Sandhills Bank Donates to Shop With a Cop Program

During the December 3 North Myrtle Beach City Council meeting, Sandhills Bank representatives Frankie Jones and Susan Ford presented the City with a check in the amount of $1,451 for the North Myrtle Beach Shop with a Cop program. The funds were collected during the annual Mayfest on Main® Festival.

PHOTO: L-R: Frankie Jones (Sandhills Bank), Public Safety Director Jay Fernandez, Susan Ford (Sandhills Bank), Mayor Marilyn Hatley

Managed by the City’s Public Safety Department, Shop with a Cop provides children in need with a $150 Walmart gift card with which to purchase presents and necessary items, such as winter coats. The children also are treated to a holiday lunch.

Beach Renourishment Project May Begin during the Week of December 3 in North Myrtle Beach

Weather and other factors permitting, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers beach renourishment project begins in North Myrtle Beach the week of December 3.

The project replaces 200,000 cubic yards of sand lost to Hurricane Irma. Based on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers beach profile measurements, sand is to be placed from about 17th Avenue South to 7th Avenue North, and should take several weeks to accomplish.

Great Lakes Dock & Dredge has begun stockpiling pipe at the 7th Avenue South street end and has established its first onshore pipeline at 15th Avenue South. The entire beach renourishment project is entitled, Myrtle Beach Shore Protection Project and includes portions of beaches in Garden City/Surfside Beach, Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach. The North Myrtle Beach phase was to begin in September, but Hurricane Florence delayed it. Great Lakes Dock & Dredge is winding up the Myrtle Beach portion of the project. To follow the location and progress of the renourishment project, please visit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers site at https://www.sac.usace.army.mil. On the home page under the heading of Routinely Requested, click on GIS Portal, then Web Mapper, then Myrtle Beach Web Mapper.