Multiple Weekend Water Rescues Highlight Importance of Water Safety

Escambia County Public Safety responded to over 40 water rescues Saturday, April 26 on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key, highlighting the importance of water safety and rip current awareness when visiting local beaches.

The responses were a collaborative effort between Escambia County EMS, Emergency Communications, Escambia County Fire Rescue, and Pensacola Beach Lifeguards, with additional assistance from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and LifeFlight.

The water rescues highlighted below are just several of many examples of the dedicated rescue efforts of Escambia County first responders on Saturday, April 26:

• Casino Beach Water Rescue: At 2:38 p.m., Escambia County Emergency Communications dispatched Escambia County Fire Rescue, the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards and Escambia County EMS to a water rescue call involving multiple patients at Casino Beach. The Pensacola Beach Lifeguards rescued four individuals from the water, and ECFR deployed a jet ski to search for a pediatric patient. Once the lifeguards located the patient, they were transported back to shore by ECFR and into the care of EMS. Once with EMS, the patient was transported to an area hospital. In total, six individuals were removed from the water during the rescue, with two being transported to area hospitals. Assistance during the effort was provided by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and LifeFlight.
• Perdido Key Drive Water Rescue: As the Casino Beach water rescue was unfolding, Escambia County Emergency Communications received a separate water rescue call for four swimmers in distress in the 16000 block of Perdido Key Drive. Escambia County Fire Rescue crews from Station #19 (Perdido Key), Station #8 (Innerarity Point), Station #14 (Pleasant Grove), and Escambia County EMS responded to the incident. Prior to ECFR and EMS arrival, all patients managed to safely make it back to shore. All patients were evaluated by EMS and did not require transportation to a hospital.
• Johnson Beach Road Water Rescue: At 5:31 p.m., Escambia County Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded to a water rescue involving three patients in the 13000 block of Johnson Beach Road. Upon arrival, a pediatric patient and an adult patient were removed from the water by bystanders, and first responders rendered patient care. One adult patient was airlifted to an area hospital. 

Following these incidents, Escambia County reminds residents and visitors to Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key to consistently exercise water safety.

"While enjoying the beach, we always strongly encourage our visitors to swim in a lifeguarded area," said Water Safety Chief Dave Greenwood. "Staying near a lifeguard greatly increases your chances of achieving a fun, safe day at the beach. If you do find yourself in a rip current, do not panic. Conserve your energy by floating on your back until you are out of the current. When out of the current, swim sideways into shore."

Pensacola Beach Lifeguards towers are located at Casino Beach and will expand to Quietwater Beach and Public Access #2 in Perdido Key beginning Memorial Day weekend. Additionally, lifeguards provide a roving patrol along the eight-mile stretch of Pensacola Beach and all public access points in Perdido Key.

Additional Information:

• Escambia County Emergency Communications received 9-1-1 calls, utilized emergency mapping to locate the individuals, and dispatched and coordinated the appropriate response from the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards, Escambia County EMS, Escambia County Fire Rescue, and other relevant agencies.
• Between 2- 4 p.m. on Saturday, Escambia County EMS responded to 17 water rescues, each response including the engagement of patient care.

Rip Currents

Rip currents are powerful channels of water that are caused by breaks in the sandbar just offshore. Currents flowing away from the coast move fastest where the sandbar is reduced or not present and the water is deeper. They are the greatest danger to beach patrons and account for more than 80% of water rescues performed by lifeguards.

Escambia County strongly urges all beach patrons to remain near a lifeguard. Even when a green flag is flying, there is still a rip current risk.

If caught in a rip current, a swimmer can escape by swimming sideways to the direction the current is pulling them, or parallel to the shore. If the current is too strong, a swimmer should go with the flow of the current until it weakens, then swim back to shore at an angle away from the rip current. Click here to watch a video on rip currents from the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards.

Pensacola Beach Flag System

The Pensacola Beach Lifeguards fly surf warning flags in several locations along Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. The colored flag system measures the following surf risks:

• Green flag - Low Hazard: Generally calms surf and currents
• Yellow flag - Medium Hazard: Moderate surf and/or currents
• Red flag - High Hazard: High surf and/or dangerous currents; beach patrons encouraged to remain out of the water
• Double red flag - Water Closed: No swimming or wading  
• Purple flag - Stinging Marine Life: Flown when jellyfish, Portuguese man o'war or other stinging marine life are present

Beach patrons are advised that the absence of a beach flag in their location does not assure water safety. For daily flag conditions and more information about Pensacola Beach Lifeguards, visit the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards page on MyEscambia.com or the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards Facebook. Click here to watch our lifeguards explain the flag system on Pensacola Beach.

Sign Up for Pensacola Beach Surf Warning Flag Text Alerts

The Pensacola Beach Lifeguards send out daily surf warning flag text alerts to update daily beach conditions. If beach conditions change throughout the day, a separate text is sent to reflect the change.

To sign up, text “PBFLAGS” TO 888-777.

Once registered, a confirmation text from Everbridge Nixle Alerts will be sent along with a welcome message from the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards. Respond to the text message with your email address to receive email alerts. Text "STOP" to 888-777 to discontinue receiving daily notifications.