Okaloosa County BOCC — September 15, 2015 — PIO UPDATE

www.okaloosafl.com Please silence cell phones for Board of County Commission Meeting. All visitors must speak into microphone for live broadcast & give name & address.  Public Safety-Beach Safety 2015 Beach Patrol of the Year  Summer 2015  Average day this summer saw about 5,000 visitors to Okaloosa Island  3 weeks with red flag days during the 101 critical days of summer  Performed 100 rescues and 350 medical calls throughout the summer season  Prevention  Achieved 100% contact with all patrons on high hazard red flag surf conditions.  0ver 200,000 preventative actions from lifeguards this season. Beach Safety 2015 Beach Patrol of the Year  Education Outreach  Approx. 10,000 area Elementary School Youth educated about open water safety with the Buddy the Dolphin Program, “Always swim with a buddy!”  86 Junior Lifeguards (Six week program June to the end of July) educated on self-rescue and surf rescue techniques as well as first aid and buddy care.  Numerous civic presentations with open water education geared towards the audience for example Eglin and Hurlburt AFB, 101 Critical days of summer campaigns. Beach Safety 2015 Beach Patrol of the Year  Response  94 Rip current and open water rescues.  308 Minor medical calls (Jellyfish stings, cuts and scrapes, etc.)  42 Major medical calls (requiring ALS check or Transport)  43 lost children reunited with parents or guardians.  261 wheelchairs delivered for access to the beach by disabled patrons.  0 drowning’s on guarded beaches. Public Safety – 911 911 story published in the International Academies of Emergency Dispatchers publication  911 Operator Scott Cronkhite got an “untypical” 911 call and was able to calm the caller in order to provide help to a victim of electric shock – “electrocution normally doesn’t turn out well,” he said. Cronkhite immediately went into CPR instructions for the bystander, aiding arborist and victim Levi Buttrill, who accidentally made contact with a live line while in a tree, in a bucket, trimming branches.  With Cronkhite’s assistance, and the arrival of the Ocean City-Wright Fire Department, Firefighters and Okaloosa EMS were able to apply an AED shock to Buttrill and bring him back to life.  Public Safety – 911  911 Story published in the International Academies of Emergency Dispatchers publication Turns out that the victim’s sister is an Okaloosa County paramedic who says the experience has brought “a new meaning to come to work and a new meaning to do what I do. It is easy for us to get complacent in our jobs, but lives really do rely on you and your training.” “I felt such a sense of pride for what Scott did,” 911 Chief Daniel Dunlap said. “You hear a lot of bad outcomes from high voltage, and this turned out to be a great outcome.” Centennial History Guest Mrs. Terri Roberts shares Liza Jackson’s History of Commitment to Okaloosa