Coast Guard Thrills Fla. Junior Lifeguards With a Lesson in Ocean Rescue

July 23--POMPANO BEACH -- The Pompano Beach Junior Lifeguard Program is wrapping up its final week of training with a bang -- or more appropriately, with a big splash.

As a youthful audience numbering more than 100 bobbed in the morning surf, a Coast Guard diver did a freefall into the ocean from a hovering helicopter just north of the pier in order to "rescue" a swimmer in distress.

Flailing her arms, the mock victim was Jaime Vanacore, 31, one of only three women Aviation Survival Technicians with the Coast Guard, who also doubles as a volunteer coach with the junior lifeguard program.

"These kids are all interested in the life-saving business and we just thought we'd give them a little encouragement and show them what the Coast Guard does," said Vanacore, the mother of two children in the summer camp.

The rescue diver grabbed Vanacore from behind and loaded her into a rescue basket that was hoisted aboard the helicopter. The diver followed, hooked to a cable.

"They loved it," said Pompano Beach Ocean Rescue head coach Chris Nowviskie. "The kids were just so impressed and for them to actually see what it is that the Coast Guard does up close and personal is just amazing."

Junior lifeguard Riley Hartsell, 14, of Pompano Beach watched as the orange aircraft roared a few hundred yards away.

"It felt so real because you heard the helicopter and you could feel the wind from the helicopter blades," she said. "I think that's pretty cool."

This was the last of three, two-week summer camps that teach life-saving skills to kids ages 9 to 17. There's also a one-week camp for 7- and 8-year-olds.

Both are extremely popular programs with an enrollment cap of 125 per session for the older trainees and 25 for the younger kids.

"We have whole families that line up to sign up," said Pompano Beach Fire Rescue spokeswoman Sandra King.

But, Vanacore said this is no beach daycare service.

"This camp is not something you can just drop your kids off at," she said. "These kids earn it every day so we were just trying to show them that it's worth the hard work that they're putting in."

Organizers say the training kids receive can lead to jobs as ocean rescue lifeguards, fire rescue paramedics or members of the Coast Guard.

That's the goal of Shannon Snell, 17, of Pompano Beach.

She's been a junior lifeguard for nine years and is a coach this summer. She also has taken part in rescue competitons in the U.S., and in France and hopes to join the U.S. Rescue Team for a trip to Australia in coming weeks.

"I actually do see myself being a Coast Guard rescue diver someday because it is something I do love and it's an adrenaline rush," she said.

Many of these junior lifeguards keep coming back for more every summer.

"They come away with a lot of self-respect, a lot of education and the knowledge of what they can do at their age to help save a life," Nowviskie said.

wkroustan@tribpub.com or 954-356-4303

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