Galveston— In the fast-paced, action-packed drama “Rescue Hi-Surf,” seen Monday nights on Fox 4, Captain Sonny Jennings and his team of lifeguards monitor the dangerous waters off the Hawaiian coast.

The popular show made KFDM/Fox 4 want to take a look at the men and women who protect beachgoers on Galveston Island.

These lifeguards are part of the Galveston Island Beach Patrol, an elite group dedicated to saving lives.

“The Galveston Island Beach Patrol is one of the busiest lifeguard services in the country,” said Peter Davis, Chief of the Galveston Island Beach Patrol.

“We cover 32 miles of beach, our jurisdiction is up to three miles offshore, but we provide emergency response to approximately 70 miles of shoreline,” Davis told KFDM/Fox 4.

Galveston Island’s beaches are among the most challenging in the country for lifeguards. For starters, the beach’s diverse population has little to no beach experience, plus the strong side currents along with rocky jetties create a dangerous mix.

“Each one of those groins generates a rip current every day of the year,” Davis said.

“In an average year we do around 200 rescues, but we are carrying out more than 300,000 preventive actions in which we keep people away from danger, from rip currents near the piers, closer to the coast, out of the water when they fall good heavens”. Davis said.

Davis said Galveston Island averages six to eight drownings a year. As a lifeguard since 1982, he has responded to more than 200 drownings.

The Galveston Island Beach Patrol, when fully staffed, has 145 members.

While a beach can be a dynamic environment, Davis said it is very safe to swim near a lifeguard. The chance of drowning on a beach monitored by the United States Lifesaving Association, such as Galveston Island, is 1 in 18 million.