Beach safety has been a popular topic in Panama City Beach lately. Bay County has been focused on ways to keep visitors safe and informed on their trips to the beach. One way they have decided to increase safety and awareness is by mandating signs in all vacation rentals that show the flag system and other important things to know when visiting our beaches. Every year there are needless deaths due to visitors not respecting the flags and not knowing some beach safety tips. We aim to ensure that you have a safe and fun vacation, but we can’t do it alone so we’ve compiled ten beach safety tips for you to use during your vacation to help you stay safe.
Never Swim Alone
No matter how experienced of a swimmer you may be, it is always a good idea to swim with a friend. Even an experience swimmer can get tired, feel cramps, have a health emergency, or encounter a dangerous situation. In case of an emergency, it’s important to have someone who can call for help if you are unable.
Pay Attention to the Flags
It is important to pay attention to the flags when on the beach and understand what the flags mean. Purple flags mean there is an increased presence of dangerous marine life. Double red flags mean the water is closed due to dangerous water conditions. Red flags mean that there are dangerous conditions and it is recommended that you stay out of the water. Yellow flags indicate moderate conditions. Green flags mean calm conditions. Be sure to keep an eye out for the flags to change. Flags are always posted on our website. You can also find the flags posted on the official Panama City Beach website or you can text ‘PCBFLAGS’ to 888777.
What to do if Caught in a Rip Tide
If you are going to the beach it is important to know how to identify rip tides and what to do if you are caught in a riptide. Rip tides are often very hard to spot, especially for people visiting our beaches. Here are four tips to help spot a rip tide:
- Change in water color: one way to identify a a rip tide is to look for changes in the water color. You may notice that the water is darker or murky in one area and not others. This is caused by the current drawing up sand and carrying it away from the shore.
- Choppy water: you may notice that the water is choppy in one area, but the surrounding waters are not. This is a good sign to avoid that area as it may be a rip tide.
- Breaking waves: rip tides cause the water to look very calm while the waves break around the rip tide. This causes the water where the rip tide is to look more inviting to swimmers. People need to be extra vigilant for these areas as they create a false sense of security.
- Foamy water: the tide will often carry foamy waters and sometimes seaweed away from the shore at the surface of the water. This is caused by the undercurrent churning up the water creating the foamy consistency and pulling seaweed to surface.
Now that you know how to identify a rip tide we want to help learn to get out of a rip tide if you were to get caught in one. The most important thing to remember is not to panic. Rip tides will not pull you under so it is important to conserve your energy to focus on getting out. The easiest way to escape a rip tide is to swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current.
Stay Hydrated
In the Florida heat and sun it is important to stay hydrated. Be sure to drink plenty of water and other hydrating drinks. Adding electrolyte drink packets such as Liquid IV can also help you stay hydrated. It’s also important to remember that alcohol and caffeine can dehydrate you.
Wear a Life Jacket
It’s never a bad idea to wear a life jacket when around water. This is especially important for children. Make sure that your life jacket is Coast Guard approved. Personal floatation devices like puddle jumpers and arm floaties are not recommended for kids to use as it teaches them unsafe positioning in the water making it even more dangerous when they are not wearing them.
Never Swim at Night
It is very dangerous to swim in the Gulf at night. The first danger that is encountered if you enter the water after dark is the inability to see. You won’t be able to see if there are hazards present in the water. The next, even greater danger is the increased presence of marine life. Many marine animals are more active at night and predators tend to come closer to shore to feed. You can’t see them, but they can see you.
Don’t Dig in the Sand
Digging in the sand can seem like fun on your beach vacation, but it can become very dangerous very fast. Holes that are too big and too deep are at danger of collapsing. Holes also pose a risk to other beach goers because people can trip in them and get hurt. Read our recent blog post about the dangers of digging in the sand.
Wear Sunscreen
The Florida sun is brutal and unforgiving. It is important to remember to pack a good sunscreen for your beach day. It is also important to remember to reapply often. There are UV stickers that can be put on the skin before you apply sunscreen that will change colors when the sunscreen needs to be reapplied. You should reapply sunscreen every two hours and after getting out of the water. It is also important to pay attention to the type of sunscreen you are using. Make sure your sunscreen is reef safe. Non reef safe sunscreens contain chemicals that can be harmful to marine life and coral reefs. Sun Bum, Neutrogena, and Hawaiian Tropic are three popular brands that carry reef safe sunscreen options.
Keep an Eye on Children at All Times
The beach can pose serious risks to children if they are not watched closely. Especially during the busy summer months it can be easy to lose sight of children on the crowded beaches. It’s always a good idea to be within an arms reach of children at all times especially when in the water.
Keep an Eye on the Weather Conditions
Weather conditions can change quickly and can become dangerous fast. Be sure to keep an eye on the radar throughout your time on the beach to track any potential weather. While rain storms don’t pose any risk aside from dampening your beach day, thunderstorms are a different story. You should head back to the condo or find an indoor activity to enjoy while waiting for thunderstorms to pass. After the storm passes it is best to wait at least thirty minutes before heading back to the beach to ensure the dangerous weather has passed. You can keep an eye on tropical storm and hurricane updates on our website. You can also take advantage of our Xplorie activities if you need a break from the sun or weather!
Are you ready to book your next beach vacation? Book your stay with Premium Beach Condos today! Don’t forget to add travel insurance to protect your vacation from the unexpected!