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St. Johns County Fire Rescue releases beach safety tips, as lifeguard staffing kicks off this weekend

Jacksonville, FL — With Memorial Day weekend marking the unofficial start to summer, St. Johns County Fire Rescue is reminding everyone to use caution at the beach, especially if you're swimming.

SJCFR is breaking down their top tips into the following 5 categories:

1. Swim near a lifeguard

-Fire rescue says your chance of drowning is almost 5 times as great, when you swim without lifeguards nearby, according to statistics collected over a ten-year period.

2. Learn to swim 

-Fire rescue says learning to swim is the best defense against drowning-- the earlier in life the better.

3. Never swim alone 

-Fire rescue says you should swim with a buddy whenever possible, as the other person may be able to help you, including signaling for assistance from others. At the least, they recommend having someone onshore watching you as you swim.

4. Don't fight the current 

-Fire rescue says some 80% of lifeguard rescues at the beach are caused by rip currents. If you're caught in a current, they recommend not fighting it directly. Instead, they suggest swimming parallel to the shore, until you feel the current let up, and then swim back to the beach.

5. Swim sober

-Fire rescue says alcohol is a major factor in drowning, with it accounting for nearly 60% of drowning incidents involving adults. Not only does it impair swimming ability, but it may cause people to take risks they would not otherwise take.

For people visiting St. Johns County beaches, SJCFR says they will begin having lifeguards on duty daily from 10 am- 6 pm, daily, beginning this Saturday, May 26th.  Lifeguard tower staffing will continue until Labor Day weekend.

St. Johns County Fire Rescue (SJCFR) will officially begin full-scale guarded beaches this Saturday, May 26, 2018. ...

Posted by St. Johns County Fire Rescue on Friday, May 25, 2018

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