Beach Safety
The Navarre Beach Fire Department would like to stress the importance of water safety while swimming in the Gulf of Mexico. The links to the left are information provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These links stress the importance of water safety and also provide basic information on some situations you may encounter while in the Gulf of Mexico. If you are not a strong swimmer or are unfamiliar with the Gulf, please swim near a lifeguard.
Learn how to swim!
When at the beach:
- Whenever possible, swim at a lifeguard-protected beach.
- Never swim alone.
- Learn how to swim in the surf. It's not the same as swimming in a pool or lake.
- Be cautious at all times, especially when swimming at unguarded beaches. If in doubt, don’t go out.
- Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards. Lifeguards are trained to identify potential hazards. Ask a lifeguard about the conditions before entering the water. This is part of their job.
- Stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties. Permanent rip currents often exist along side these structures.
- Consider using polarized sunglasses when at the beach. They will help you to spot signatures of rip currents by cutting down glare and reflected sunlight off the ocean’s surface.
- Pay especially close attention to children and elderly when at the beach. Even in shallow water, wave action can cause loss of footing.