Cape Hatteras National Seashore Urges Visitors to Swim at Lifeguard Beaches and Sign Up for Swimming Safety Alerts

Contact: CAHA Public Affairs, 252-475-9032

MANTEO, N.C. - Cape Hatteras National Seashore is pleased to announce the locations of its five lifeguarded beaches and offer tips to help summer visitors stay safe in and out of the ocean.

Lifeguarded Beaches
Lifeguarded beaches are the safest places to swim at the Seashore. There are five beach locations staffed with lifeguards from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). The locations of the five lifeguarded beaches are:

Visitors should sign up for Dare County's swimming safety alerts and swim at any of the Seashore's five lifeguarded beaches.

Safety Alerts
Seashore visitors can sign up for ocean and beach condition alerts from Outer Banks lifeguards, ocean rescue agencies and the National Weather Service by texting OBXBeachConditions to 77295. Alerts cover conditions in both Dare and Hyde counties.

Love The Beach, Respect the Ocean Website
Another helpful tool for planning a safe visit to the beach is Dare County's Love the Beach, Respect the Ocean website. Whether you are planning a visit to a Seashore beach in Dare County or Hyde County's Ocracoke Island, www.lovethebeachrespecttheocean.com is an online destination for learning the daily rip current risk, beach conditions and more. The website also includes many potentially life-saving videos featuring local lifeguards and Outer Banks residents.

Ocean and Beach Safety Tips

• Swim at beaches patrolled by lifeguards.

• Bring something in the water with you that floats.

  • Rather than struggling through a rip current and exhausting yourself, bring something into the ocean that floats and easily float away from the rip current. Float don't fight.

• Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean is not the same as swimming in a pool or a lake. Ocean swimming can be very physically taxing and may exacerbate underlying medical issues.

• A perfect day on the beach doesn't always mean that it's a perfect day in the ocean. If in doubt, don't go out.

• Never swim alone. Swim with a buddy and have adult supervision for all children. Have someone on shore keep an eye on you while you swim, surf or wade.

• Be aware that the ocean presents additional hazards, such as lightning, high surf and shore break. Learn more at www.lovethebeachrespectheocean.com.

• Avoid wearing shiny objects that may attract sharks and other fish.

• Avoid swimming where danger is present: in rough seas; inlets; around fishing piers and surfers, at night or during thunderstorms.