Navarre Beach lifeguard season starts March 12

Thursday, 10 March 2011 16:50 Written by Staff Reports

With the beaches about to be swarmed with spring breakers, lifeguards will begin patrolling as of March 12.

According to Joy Tsubooka, Public Information officer for Santa Rosa County, they will be on duty daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Usually the lifeguards initially man the area next to the Navarre Beach Pier on the weekends through March with staffing increasing daily and expanding to cover the other gulf-side public beach areas and the Navarre Beach Park. However, Tsubooka said they are finding that practice needs to change.
“This year is going to be a little different,” Tsubooka said. “… What they are finding this year is that the [Navarre Beach Park] is really already busy. They are going to have check on the park day by day and decide then if lifeguards are necessary.”

The lifeguard season will go through October.

When swimming at the beach, regardless of whether or not lifeguards are present, the county urges residents and visitors to exercise caution, including heeding the warnings of beach flags. Surf conditions can be checked by going to www.santarosa.fl.gov by selecting the Navarre Beach Surf Report button.

Additionally, beach goers are urged to follow these simple beach safety tips:

n Learn to swim.

n Never swim alone.

n Supervise children closely, even when lifeguards are present.

n Don’t rely on flotation devices, such as rafts; you may lose them in the water.

n Alcohol and swimming don’t mix.

n Protect your head, neck, and spine- don’t dive into unfamiliar waters- feet first, first time!

n Don’t swim at dawn, dusk or at night as these times are when sharks feed.

n During thunderstorms move inside to a building or vehicle.

n If you are in trouble, call or wave for help.

n Scuba dive only if trained and certified, and within the limits of your training.

n No glass containers at the beach. Broken glass and bare feet don’t mix.