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Governor Crist recognizes National Beach Safety week

By Staff | May 18, 2009

Highlighting May 18-25, 2008, as National Beach Safety Week, Governor Charlie Crist recently signed a proclamation urging all beachgoers to enjoy Florida’s coastal resources while taking appropriate measures to protect themselves and their families from the dangers that can be found in aquatic environments.

“Florida’s waters are a wonderful source of recreation and enjoyment for residents and visitors, but it’s important to always use caution and be mindful of potential hazards,” said Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Michael W. Sole. “Beach safety is an important priority of the state, and by providing safety tools like beach warning flags, we are able to reduce the number of accidents while ensuring a pleasant beach experience.”

Florida has more than 1,200 miles of coastline, including more than 800 miles of sandy beaches. National Beach Safety Week, promoted through a partnership between DEP, the Florida Beach Patrol Chiefs Association and the Southeast and South Atlantic Regions of the United States Lifesaving Association, reminds visitors to use caution when enjoying the state’s aquatic environment. You can enjoy a pleasant, and still safe, beach experience by:

Refraining from alcohol consumption before swimming.

Swimming near a lifeguard.

Swimming in groups.

Supervising children.

Observing beach safety warnings and flags before entering the water.

In 2002, DEP’s Florida Coastal Management Program developed a uniform warning and safety flag system for use by Florida’s beachfront communities. DEP consulted with the United States Lifesaving Association, the International Life Saving Federation, state agencies and local governments to design a warning flag system that is simple to use and easy to interpret, based on the flag design and color coding proposed by the International Life Saving Federation. To encourage use of the system, the warning flags and interpretive signs to explain the flag’s meanings are provided upon request free of charge annually to beachfront communities. Flag warnings and colors are:

Red over Red (two flags flying): Water closed to the public.

Red: High hazard, high surf and/or strong currents.

Yellow: Medium hazard, moderate surf and/or currents.

Green: Low hazard, calm conditions, exercise caution.

Purple: Dangerous marine life.

For more information on beach safety and Florida’s Coastal Management Program, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/cmp . To see the Governor’s proclamation, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/news/2009/05/files/beach_safety.pdf.

Source: The Department of Environmental Protection