Make it a safe day at the beach

While making a trip to the beach is often the vacation of a lifetime, there is an element of danger involved. Unlike a public pool, there are no depth markings on the beach. Swimmers can be wading along a sandbar only for it to suddenly drop into chest-deep water.

Rip tides and strong currents can drag beach goers out into the Gulf quickly and there is always the chance wiggly, biting and stinging things will join the fun, even close to shore.

Fortunately for visitors to the Emerald Coast, local communities are taking the extra step necessary to make a trip to the beaches here as safe as possible.

In 2005, a uniform flag warning system was adopted by the Florida legislature. Up till then, communities often used similar flag systems, but the differences in color, size and symbols were inconsistent.

The new system uses five colored flags to warn beach goers of the presence of dangerous marine life such as jellyfish and red tide, high to moderate surf, rip tides, and beach closures.

Beach warning flags:

• Green - low hazard

• Purple - dangerous marine life

• Yellow - medium hazard

• Red - high hazard

• Double red - water closed to the public

In Okaloosa and Walton counties there is the added safety measure of manned lifeguard stations at more than a dozen public beaches along some 30 miles of Emerald Coast shoreline.

Okaloosa County Beach Safety Division

In Okaloosa County, 26 lifeguards in the Beach Safety Division patrol about six miles of shoreline from March to October, with guard towers in eight locations. These, along with two other beaches, are also patrolled year round.

These lifeguards are trained to the U.S. Lifeguard Association standards and all are also trained as First Responders. All senior staff are either certified Emergency Medical Technicians or paramedics.

Okaloosa Beach Lifeguard towers:

• James Lee Park

• John Beasley Park

• Newman C. Brackin Wayside Park (The Boardwalk)

• Blue Dolphin Beachwalk (#1 beach access)

• Emerald View Beachwalk (#2 beach access)

• Seashore Beachwalk (#3 beach access)

• Beach Access #5 - between Emerald Isle and Island Echoes

• Emerald Promenade Beachwalk (#7 beach access)

Two other beach accesses are along the patrol route:

• Beach Access #4 - between Pelican Isle and Nautilus

• Doris Jordan Freedom Beachwalk (#6 beach access)

Many of these beaches also feature public parking areas, restrooms and show facilities, and covered picnic pavilions.

For more information and directions to these beaches, visit online at http://www.co.okaloosa.fl.us/Beach/Beach_Safety_files/page0012.htm.

Walton County Beach Access

In Walton County there are more than 70 public beach and bay accesses along 26 miles of coastline with six of these recreation areas featuring lifeguard stations. The stations are manned from mid-March through September.

These beaches also have public parking and restroom facilities:

• Inlet Beach

• Santa Clara

• Gulfview Heights

• Ed Walline

• Dune Allen

• Miramar Beach

For directions and a map of all the public Walton County beach and bay accesses, go to

http://www.protectwaltoncountybeaches.com/BSWAccessMap062007.pdf.

Find out more about Okaloosa and Walton counties public beaches at the Beaches section of EmeraldCoast.com (http://travel.emeraldcoast.com/beaches.php).

Related beach articles:

• Beach Checklist - http://travel.emeraldcoast.com/beaches.php

• Dressing for a Day a the beach - http://travel.emeraldcoast.com/articles/dressing_beach.php

• So, you’re going to get a tan anyway - http://travel.emeraldcoast.com/articles/tanning.php

• Staying safe at the beach - http://travel.emeraldcoast.com/articles/staying_safe.php

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