My Clearwater
Summer 63
Summer Safety in the Sand & Surf
Thousands of people flock to bright and beautiful
Clearwater Beach each year. That’s just one of the
reasons it’s ranked the best beach in the nation two
years in a row, according to TripAdvisor.
Another reason is the city’s stellar lifeguard team. The city
of Clearwater operates seven lifeguard towers along a 1-mile
stretch of beach from Clearwater Pass to Bay Esplanade.
Dedicated, well-trained lifeguards man these towers from
9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. 365 days a year. The main lifeguard
station, Tower 0, is located at 180 S. Gulf Blvd., just south
of Pier 60.
Top Ten Beach Safety Tips
When planning your trip to Clearwater Beach, plan to stay
safe and have fun. Follow these 10 tips:
1. Learn to swim. Learning to swim is the best defense
against drowning.
2. Always swim near a lifeguard!
3. Never swim alone. Swim with a companion, or have
someone on shore who can call for help.
4. Don’t fight the current. If you get caught in a rip
current, swim parallel to the shore until you can safely
swim ashore.
5. Swim sober. Alcohol impairs one’s swimming ability
and good judgment – and, alcohol is prohibited on
Clearwater Beach.
6. Wear sunscreen, and drink plenty of water to stay
hydrated in the hot sun.
7. Wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket if you can’t
swim or while boating. Don’t trust rafts and other
floatation devices while offshore.
8. Never jump off Pier 60. It is very dangerous and could
result in serious injury.
9. Understand beach warning flags. They represent ocean
hazards and surf conditions. See below for what they
mean.
10. Watch the weather. Florida lightning storms can be
deadly. Storms can arrive with little warning. Have a
family plan on where to meet in case of a storm, and
don’t wait until the last minute to seek shelter.
Beach Flags Make Waves
Flags are posted on Clearwater
Beach and its lifeguard towers
to represent ocean hazards
and surf conditions. Red flags
indicate high hazards, yellow
flags indicate medium hazards,
green flags indicate low hazards
or calm conditions, and purple
flags are for dangerous marine
life. Beachgoers should obey all
posted signs and flags.
Beach Wheelchairs
Need help getting to the
shoreline? Beach wheelchairs
are available at Tower 0 south of Pier 60 on a first-come,
first-served basis. Ask a lifeguard for assistance between the
hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
To learn more about beach safety or to contact the
Clearwater Beach Patrol, call 462-6963.