Jacksonville Beach lifeguard captain offers Memorial Day weekend safety tips

Memorial Day weekend means plenty of people will hit the beach for some sun and waves, but it's important to be safe in the process.

Maxwell Ervanian is the captain of lifeguards with Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue, and he says there are four main things to remember if you go to the beach this weekend.

First, he says you should try to stay cool if you can. That means finding shade or getting in the water to cool down.

Second, you need to drink plenty of fluids. Ervanian says that's especially true if you plan to drink alcohol because you'll get dehydrated quicker.

The third thing Ervanian wants you to remember is to wear sunscreen. He says the best technique is to apply a layer before you leave the house and continue to put more on throughout the day.

Lastly, he says you'll want to wear the right clothes. You don't want to get too hot by wearing long pants or heavy shirts, but it's also helpful to wear clothing to protect your skin from the sun.

There will be plenty of lifeguards on duty throughout the weekend, and Ervanian suggests sticking close to them if you can.

"Really looking at swimming with a buddy, swimming near a lifeguard, but at the very least checking in with the lifeguard on where the best place to swim is," Ervanian says.

He says there are flags out to warn swimmers of dangerous conditions, but lifeguards will have more information that can help you stay safe in the water.

Another really important thing is to keep track of children. If you lose track of your child, Ervanian says you'll need to contact a lifeguard right away.

"To kids, the beach looks the same no matter where they're at," he says. "So we want to remind bathers and beach goers who are coming to the beach with kids to keep an eye on kids."