Manatee County lifeguards rescued 136 people over a three-day stretch last week, prompting officials to remind beachgoers to make safety part of every trip to the shore.
In a social media post Tuesday, county officials said lifeguards also spotted more than 125 rip currents between Wednesday and Friday, and stepped in nearly 200 times to help prevent potential water rescues and medical emergencies and shared five beach safety tips.
Officials encouraged beachgoers to:
- Swim near a staffed lifeguard tower.
- Pay attention to beach warning flags and what they mean.
- Designate a “Water Watcher” to supervise children in the water.
- If caught in a rip current, stay calm, float, conserve energy and swim parallel to shore until you’re out of the current.
- Protect yourself from the sun by applying sunscreen, seeking shade and staying hydrated.
In a video accompanying the post, a county lifeguard compared beach warning flags to traffic lights…