JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Americans are heading to the beaches celebrating the unofficial start of summer today -- it’s Memorial Day.
Staying safe at the beach is as simple as knowing how to get out of and avoid danger before stepping on the sand.
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Here are key safety tips you should know.
- Never swim alone
- Locate lifeguards before getting in the water and swim near them
- Set “meeting points” with your friends and family. Use this place to meet if anyone gets lost
- Don’t swim out too far from shore
- Don’t dig holes deeper than your knees
About 40 million adults don’t know how to swim in the U.S. Drowning is the leading cause of death among preschool-aged children.
Drowning at a beach without lifeguards is about five times greater than drowning at a beach with lifeguards.
Last Memorial Day weekend, 19-year-old Curtis Newkirk Jr. drowned while swimming at Jacksonville Beach. He was there with his family after the lifeguards got off duty.
If you don’t see a lifeguard on duty, call the lifeguard station at 904-270-1685 to find the nearest on-duty lifeguard.
Roughly 80% of rescues at the beach are due to rip currents. Follow these steps if you get caught in one.
- Don’t fight it
- Swim parallel to the shore until you feel the current relax
- After it relaxes, swim toward shore
What do the flags at the beach mean?
- Single red flag: there is a high surf and/or strong currents
- Two red flags: the water is closed to the public
- Yellow flag: medium hazard
- Green flag: the water is calm (still exercise caution)
- Purple flag: watch out for man-o-war, jellyfish and stingrays
Firefighters and police officers will be out in force working to keep everyone safe on and off the sand.
The city made a number of changes to increase security after the three shootings on St. Patrick’s Day. The improvements include deploying more undercover officers, increasing traffic presence and raising parking fees during peak problem times.
If you plan to go to Jacksonville Beach, keep these guidelines in mind
- No alcoholic beverages or glass bottles
- If you’re bringing food, clean it up before leaving
- Charcoal and gas grills are not allowed
- Dogs are only allowed before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. until Sept. 30.
Make sure to bring your sunscreen, snacks and safety knowledge to the beach Monday.