BEACH RULES Beach days are precious, and too often they are few and far between. It is important to be aware of local beach rules and simple etiquette that will ensure everyone, you and those around you, enjoy their welldeserved beach vacation. • Please do not trash our beautiful beaches. Trash cans are provided for your convenience. In the event receptacles are full, please take trash with you for disposal. • Glass is not allowed on the beach. • While the use of small charcoal grills is allowed on the beach, open camp fires built into the sand are not. When cleaning your area at the end of the day, please take your coals with you. Do not bury your hot coals, as someone could come along and step on them and be burned; and please do not dump them into trash receptacles. • Be considerate of people around you in regards to language and music volume.
BEACH SAFETY The beaches of South Padre Island are here for your enjoyment. To help you get the most out of your beach vacation, the Island has implemented a flag system that gives you much needed information regarding surf conditions. Watch for these flags and heed their warnings: Red Flag - Heavy surf and dangerous currents. Yellow Flag - Calm to moderate water. Does not assume safe water. Blue Flag - Presence of venomous marine life (Jellyfish and Man-O-War). The absence of a flag does not guarantee safe water. In the event of an emergency dial 911.
RIP CURRENT SAFETY TIPS • • • • •
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. If in doubt, don’t go out. Obey all instructions and orders from the Beach Patrol. Stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties. Permanent rip currents often exist along the sides of 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 close attention to children and elderly when at the beach. Even in shallow water, wave action can cause loss of footing. If caught in a rip current: • Remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly. • Never fight against the current. • Think of it like a treadmill that cannot be turned off, which you need to step to the side of. • Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim at an angle away from the current and towards shore. • If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore. • If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by waving your arm and yelling for help. If you see someone in trouble, don’t become a victim too: • Get help from a member of the Beach Patrol. • Call 9-1-1 if a member of the Beach Patrol is not immediately available. • Do not attempt to rescue the person in trouble. • Throw the rip current victim something that floats such as a lifejacket, a cooler or an inflatable ball. • Yell instructions on how to escape. • Remember, many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current. _ sopadre.com
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