The number of major incidents – dislocations, spinal injuries, alcohol/drug overdoses – rose for the second year in a row, with surf-related injuries leading the tally at 29.

Because Dewey lacks a fire department or paramedic service, Dewey Beach Patrol guards are trained as first responders to any medical emergency. A report issued by Capt. Todd Fritchman at a recent council meeting shows a decline in first aid responses but a rise in serious incidents. Guards responded to 77 major emergencies in 2009, up 43 percent from last year, when guards responded to 54 emergencies.

Of the emergencies, 30 were surf-related. Fritchman said plunging waves breaking on the shore sent swimmers headfirst into the sand, causing abrasions, muscle soreness and injury to the cervical spine.

“The energy of shore-break waves can knock people over, striking the sand directly with the face or the forehead,” Fritchman said. He said many beachgoers are simply unaware of the waves’ power.

“They’ll actually stand in a fixed position in the impact zone,” Fritchman said. He said Dewey guards are trained to identify swimmers who seem ill-prepared for strong surf, pull them out of the water and give them a crash course in wave safety.

“We do a lot of proactive stuff when we see people who are out of tune,” he said.

Little can be done about the surf break, however, caused by what Fritchman called a profound slope of the beach. This year’s beach replenishment reinforced the beach in Dewey with smooth sand, but Fritchman said it created a steep drop to the shore, which in turn creates dangerous waves.

The replenishment effort was focused on raising beach elevation, Fritchman said, not preventing a dangerous shore break.

“They’re not concerned with safety factors,” he said, speaking of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which conducts beach renourishment. “They’re concerned with $13 million worth of sand transport.”

Fritchman echoes the view of Rehoboth Beach Patrol Capt. Kent Buckson, who blamed stones deposited on the beach during Rehoboth’s last replenishment for a steep shore break and an increase in injuries.

Peak crowds made July the busiest month for Dewey guards, with 27 emergency responses. Fritchman said guards intervened in at least two life-threatening situations: assisting a person suffering from an overdose and saving a swimmer caught in a powerful rip current.

This season was the first where Dewey guards issued tickets for civil violations. Twenty-nine citations were issued, many for consumption of alcohol on the beach. Some violators were unaware that spirits were banned from the sands, Fritchman said. Others took the chance their alcohol use would not be noticed.

A skeleton crew of a few guards monitored the beach during evening hours, Fritchman said, checking bonfire permits and keeping would-be dippers out of the water.

While the beach patrol staff was reduced by 13 compared to last year, the summer went smoothly, Fritchman said. Dewey draws smaller crowds than Rehoboth, he said, but at the summer’s peak moments, it’s a lot to handle.

“Weekends can be stressful,” he said, “but lifeguarding’s a stressful industry.”