I grew up in West Haven, and the beach has always been a part of my life. A lot of my best memories are down at Sea Bluff Beach. West Haven has the longest shoreline in Connecticut, a little over three miles of coast along Long Island Sound, and I have spent more time on it than I can count.
So when the city started building out its beach safety program this spring, I wanted to help. Through Precision Cutting Services, I donated seven rescue torpedoes to the West Haven Police Department.
A rescue torpedo is a buoyant float that an officer or lifeguard can carry into the water and hand to a swimmer who is in trouble. It keeps the person up and gives the rescuer something solid to hold while bringing them back to shore. They are light, quick to grab, and small enough to keep in the trunk of a patrol car.
That last part is what made this feel right to me. Our police are up and down Ocean Avenue and Captain Thomas Boulevard all day, which often puts an officer closest to the water when something goes wrong. If they can pull the gear straight from the cruiser, help reaches the water that much faster.
The torpedoes are one piece of a bigger push. Mayor Dorinda Borer decided to get ahead of the season this year and laid out the plan at a press conference. West Haven is installing 15 life rings along the shoreline that anyone can grab and throw when no lifeguard is on duty. A new lifeguard station goes in this July. The city is raising the platform four feet off the ground for a clearer view of the water and equipping it with rescue boards, a 911 call box, and cameras that watch the Cove River and the Sound. The Parks and Recreation Department is also giving away 200 life jackets for local kids and running free swim lessons and boating classes over the summer.
For me, this came down to giving back to the town that raised me. When WFSB covered the story, I told them I hope nobody ever has to use these torpedoes. I just want them on hand in case a day ever comes when it matters. You can read WFSB’s full coverage of West Haven’s beach safety upgrades here: WFSB: West Haven ramps up beach safety with rescue equipment.
Precision Cutting Services has worked throughout New Haven County for more than 26 years, and West Haven has always been home. Looking out for this town and the people who keep its beaches safe is something I am proud to do.
Paul Skerritt
Owner, Precision Cutting Services