As Memorial Day weekend approaches and thousands head out to enjoy the beach, Escambia County would like to offer a few simple tips for a safe, fun weekend:
Traffic
- Be patient and leave early. Traffic will be heavy, and parking will be limited.
- If parking is full in the core areas of Pensacola Beach, take advantage of the free trolleys offered by the Santa Rosa Island Authority. The trolleys are operated by Escambia County Area Transit and will run daily from 4 p.m. to midnight through Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 1.
- Please note that the toll plaza across Bob Sikes Bridge is an electronic toll. No cash or coins can be collected. The county encourages motorists to plan ahead and use electronic toll collection devices (i.e. SunPass®, E-Pass, Annual Pass, NC Quick Pass, Peach Pass, E-ZPass) or TOLL-BY-PLATE from SunPass.
Water Safety Tips
- Check before you go and follow the posted beach condition flag warnings. Watch the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards explain the flag system on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. Beach conditions can be checked at PensacolaBeachLifeguards.com and on the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards Facebook page. The Pensacola Beach Lifeguards introduced a daily text message service updating surf conditions. To sign up, text “PBFLAGS” to 888-777.
- Regardless of swimming level, never swim alone, and always swim near a lifeguard. Lifeguards staff six Gulf-front towers, a tower at Quietwater public use areas on Pensacola Beach, at the Gulf Islands National Seashore areas of Fort Pickens, Opal Beach and Johnson Beach, and, beginning Saturday, May 24, Public Beach Access #2 in Perdido Key.
- If in doubt, don’t go out.
- Remember: Alcohol, sun and swimming do not mix.
- Break the Rip: Know how to escape a rip current. The Pensacola Beach Lifeguards demonstrate how to break the grip of a rip current, which can pull even the strongest swimmer out to sea.
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 calm 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.
Heat Safety Tips
- Be sure to wear and reapply sunscreen often.
- Avoid strenuous activities and wear light clothing.
- Check on elderly family members and neighbors.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
- Never leave people or pets in a closed car.
Hot Car Safety Tips
- “Look before you lock!” When traveling with companions, double-check to ensure everyone is out before locking the vehicle.
- Place a reminder item, such as a stuffed animal, in your vehicle’s passenger seat to ensure remembering to assist all passengers in exiting the vehicle.
- Keep the vehicle locked and keys out of reach. Children can potentially lock themselves inside hot vehicles on accident.
- Do not assume passengers are capable of exiting a vehicle alone. Check in with all passengers and assist in exiting the vehicle when necessary.
Pet Safety Tips for Warm Weather
- Pets can overheat quickly in warm weather. Make sure your pet has plenty of fresh water and access to shade to avoid overheating.
- Be able to recognize symptoms of heat exhaustion in a pet, such as difficulty breathing, excessive panting, weakness or increased drooling. If you notice these symptoms, take your pet to a cool area.
- Never leave a pet in an unattended vehicle. When driving with a pet, leave an item such as a purse or cell phone in the backseat to ensure remembering to retrieve the pet.
- Limit the time a pet spends on hot asphalt. Hot asphalt can increase the chance of overheating in pets and can burn the pet’s paws.
Leave No Trace
- Remember to "leave no trace" and keep Pensacola Beach sea turtle-friendly. Properly dispose of trash, fill in any holes in the sand and remove belongings from the beach at the end of the day. This includes not leaving any personal property unattended on the sandy gulf beach from sunset until sunrise like umbrellas, tents, beach toys and chairs.
- Glass containers are not allowed on the beach.
- Dogs other than service animals are not permitted on any of the beaches except in the two designated dog parks on Pensacola Beach. East: Lot E on Via De Luna Drive, beach walkover 28B. West: Lot B on Fort Pickens Road, beach walkover 21E.
Pool Safety
While not everyone plans to head to the beach during Memorial Day weekend, several will choose to enjoy the weekend in or near a swimming pool. Along with enjoying a day at the pool, grilling is a common activity enjoyed during Memorial Day weekend. Escambia County offers the following swimming pool and grilling safety tips:
- Always watch children and never leave them unattended.
- If a child is missing, check the pool first.
- Learn to swim and make sure the children do, too.
- Always designate a watcher by the pool.
- Have life-saving equipment such as life rings or reaching poles available for use.
- Make sure children who are in the water stay away from drains.
- Do not run in the pool area to avoid slipping and causing injury.
- Avoid diving into the shallow end of a pool.
Grilling Safety
- Only use your grill outside.
- Keep your grill at least three feet away from any siding, rails or eaves.
- Keep a three-foot zone around your grill. This will keep children and pets safe.
- If using a gas grill, open the top before lighting the grill.
- Keep an eye on the grill at all times.
- Clean the grill after each use. Remove any grease to avoid any grease fires.
- If using charcoal, remove the coals once they have cooled and place them into a metal garbage can with a lid.
