Memorial Day Weekend Safety Tips from Escambia County

With Memorial Day bringing residents and visitors to Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key, Escambia County encourages everyone to stay safe while enjoying Escambia County beaches and waterways.

Know Before You Go

Before heading to the beach, check available tools, including traffic cameras and daily surf flag updates, to help plan your visit.<_o3a_p>

Pensacola Beach Lifeguards

Pensacola Beach Lifeguards are staffed at Casino Beach, Park East, Park West, and Quietwater Beach on Pensacola Beach, and at Beach Access #2 on Perdido Key.

Lifeguards are also stationed at Gulf Islands National Seashore Beaches on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key from Friday, May 15 until Monday, Sept. 7. Lifeguards will staff towers at Opal Beach, Langdon Beach, and Johnson Beach from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.<_o3a_p>

Residents and visitors are encouraged to stay near the lifeguards while on the beach and should exercise caution when swimming in the Gulf, even when lifeguards are present. <_o3a_p>

Beach Flag System

Beachgoers should be mindful of surf warning flags, but remember that the absence of flags does not assure water safety. Always use caution, regardless of flag conditions. Only strong swimmers should enter the Gulf. <_o3a_p>

• 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

For daily flag conditions and more information about Pensacola Beach Lifeguards, visit the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards page or the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards Facebook. Watch a video of Pensacola Beach Lifeguards explaining the flag system.

Pensacola Beach Traffic Cameras and Construction Updates

Escambia County operates three traffic cameras on Pensacola Beach. Two cameras are positioned at the Bob Sikes Toll Plaza, showing traffic entering and leaving the beach. A third camera, located at South Harbour Condominium, provides a view of the Casino Beach parking lot. View traffic cameras along Pensacola Beach here.

Escambia County is pausing construction on the Pensacola Beach Gateway Improvements Project for Memorial Day weekend and the following week in order to ensure there are no lane closures or disruptions to traffic on Pensacola Beach due to project construction. Click here for more information.

Public Transportation

The Pensacola Beach Island Trolleys provide free transportation around Pensacola Beach, running from 4 p.m. until midnight daily from Friday, May 22 until Monday, Sept. 7. The trolleys are operated by Escambia County Area Transit in partnership with the Santa Rosa Island Authority.

ECAT also operates the Seasonal Beach Jumper, providing residents and visitors a free and convenient way to travel between Pensacola and Pensacola Beach this summer. The Beach Jumper will run on Fridays from 2:10-9:40 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:40 a.m. to 9:55 p.m. See the full schedule here.

Water Safety

Rip currents are the leading water hazard and account for more than 80% of lifeguard rescues. Even on green flag days, rip currents can be present.

If you are caught in a rip current:

• Stay calm.
• Swim parallel to shore.
• If you are unable to swim out immediately, float with the current until it weakens, then swim back to shore at an angle.

Watch a video on rip currents from the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards.

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 water.
• Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
• Never leave people or pets in a closed car.

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 are only allowed in designated beach dog parks and must always be kept on a leash.