Escambia County Shares Safety Tips for Blue Angels Weekend

With the Blue Angels ready to take to the skies for the Pensacola Beach Air Show, be sure to follow these tips from Escambia County for a safe, fun weekend in the sun:

Traffic

• Leave early. Traffic will be heavy, and parking is limited on Pensacola Beach. To view live traffic cameras at the Casino Beach parking lot and Bob Sikes Bridge, visit MyEscambia.com/pensacolabeach.
• If parking is full in the core areas, take advantage of the free Pensacola Beach trolleys offered by the Santa Rosa Island Authority. East and west parking lots will be serviced by trolleys and will take beachgoers to and from Casino Beach. Click here for more information about Pensacola Beach trolley service.
• Remember that access into and exiting the Casino Beach parking lot along Via De Luna Drive and Fort Pickens Road functions in a circular configuration, with one way in and one way out. The only entrance into the parking lot is along Via De Luna Drive next to Sidelines Sports Bar & Restaurant and across the street from Flounder’s Chowder House. The only exit from the parking lot is along Fort Pickens Road near the public restrooms/Public Safety Building. 

Water Safety

• Be sure to wear and reapply sunscreen often and drink plenty of water. Remember that alcohol, sun and swimming do not mix. 
• Escambia County could experience higher-than-normal temperatures, leading to potential heat exhaustion and other heat-related injuries. View Escambia County's safety message when experiencing very hot temperatures while at the beach.
• Swim in lifeguarded areas, and be sure to follow all lifeguard instructions. Swimmers will not be allowed in the Gulf during the air show.
• Check before you go and follow the posted beach condition flag warnings. Beach conditions can be checked at PensacolaBeachLifeguards.com and on the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards Facebook page.
• Know how to escape from a rip current and learn how to break the grip of the rip, which can pull even the strongest swimmer out to sea. Watch the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards' rip current safety video here.
• Escambia County's Water Safety Chief Dave Greenwood shared a safety message when enjoying the air show. View the safety message here.

Beach Rules

• 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. Click here to view the Leave No Trace ordinance.

Follow all Pensacola Beach rules, including:

• Glass containers are not allowed on the beach.
• The west side of the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier is an alcohol-free zone.
• Open containers are not allowed off the boardwalk or outside any establishment.
• No alcohol can be consumed in any parking lot on Santa Rosa Island.
• No grills are allowed on the beach.
• Dogs other than service animals are not permitted on the any of the beaches except in designated dog parks. Click here to view complete rules and boundaries for Pensacola Beach dog parks.

Cooling and First Aid Stations

Air show attendees are strongly encouraged to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water while at the beach. The Be Ready Alliance, known as BRACE, and the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce will host a cooling and hydration station at the Pensacola Beach Visitors Information Center, located in the Casino Beach parking lot near the corner of Via de Luna Drive and Fort Pickens Road. The Visitors Information Center will be open as a cooling center for those needing a break from the hot sun. 

If an air show attendee needs medical assistance, the first aid medical tent will be located in the Escambia County Sheriff's Office substation and Casino Beach Bar and Grille parking lot. 

Click here to view a full schedule for the Pensacola Beach Air Show.