Beach Patrol Sheds Light on National Beach Safety Week with Reminders to Beachgoers
Beach season is officially upon us and millions of visitors are expected to visit Galveston Island beaches this summer for fun in the sun. While fun should be a priority, so should beach safety.
As we kick off the summer season and recognize National Beach Safety Week, taking place May 22-29, the award-winning Galveston Island Beach Patrol is reminding the public of the following safety tips:
Every day, the Galveston Island Beach Patrol raises flags that signal the condition of the water. To learn the meaning behind each flag’s color, visit www.galvestonbeachinfo.com/conditions.asp.
Galveston boasts an Advanced Level lifeguard service certified by the United States Lifesaving Association. Lifeguards patrol from early morning until dark throughout the summer at the beach parks and along the seawall. Visitors are encouraged to seek out lifeguards and swim nearby for protection.
Stay away from the rocks and jetties where there is a chance you could be caught in a dangerous rip current. Also, don’t swim at the ends of the island because of strong tidal currents. To learn more about rip current awareness, visit https://galvestonislandbeachpatrol.com/rip-currents
"80% of our rescues happen in rip currents, which matches national statistics," said Galveston Island Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis.
“Lifeguards are there to help reduce the number of accidents at our beaches, but we cannot do the job alone,” said Galveston Island Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis. “An informed public is essential to maintaining proper levels of beach and water safety.”
Galveston Island Beach Patrol (GIBP) takes beach safety seriously and, beyond the lifeguard program, has implemented a range of initiatives to ensure that visitors to the island's beaches can enjoy themselves safely. Here are just a few of the programs and initiatives GIBP has in place:
"The main focus of our safety talks is rip currents.” said Galveston Island Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis. “Rip currents are the number one life hazard on the beach, and we want to ensure that everyone who visits our beaches knows how to spot and avoid them to help prevent accidents from happening."
For more water safety information visit www.galvestonislandbeachpatrol.com. For more information on visiting Galveston’s beaches, go to www.galvestonbeachinfo.com.
About Galveston Island
Galveston Island is a historic beach town located on the Gulf of Mexico just 50 miles from Houston. The island is best known as a vacation destination, offering 32 miles of beaches, a variety of family attractions, Texas’ premier cruise port and one of the largest and well-preserved concentrations of Victorian architecture in the country, including several National Historic Landmarks. Galveston Island is the birthplace of Juneteenth and home to popular amusements such as Moody Gardens and Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark, as well as a variety of museums and recreational activities from surfing to birding. For more information on Galveston Island go to www.visitgalveston.com or call 1-888-GAL-ISLE.
Media resources can be found online at www.visitgalveston.com/media