Lifeguard season ends in November

Flags noting the beach conditions will continue to be posted by county staff. Residents and visitors are asked to exercise caution and use common sense when enjoying Navarre's beaches, including heeding the warnings of beach flags, and not swimming in the Gulf of Mexico whenever red flags are flying.

The public beaches, including the areas next to the Navarre Beach Pier and the Gulf side beaches of Navarre Beach Park, are guarded each year generally from March 1 to Oct. 31.

From March through September of this year, lifeguards made 107 rescues, more than double the number of rescues during the same period in 2009. Seventy-four rescues were made in July when our area experienced extremely dangerous red flag conditions.

Two deaths also occurred in July in the early evening after lifeguards were off duty.