San Diego officials urging beach safety during Memorial Day weekend
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SAN DIEGO (KUSI) — With San Diegans expected to flock to the coast this Memorial Day weekend, lifeguards and city officials are encouraging people to take precaution during their holiday beach visits.
“Memorial Day being a long holiday weekend and the unofficial start of summer, we want people to be reminded as they come to our local beaches … to practice safe swimming and ocean safety tips,” Lt. Lonnie Stephens with the San Diego Police Department’s Beach Safety unit told KUSI Friday morning.
In particular, Stephens said beachgoers should be aware of abnormally strong rip currents and how beach erosion from this large winter swells over the last few months could impact safety. He encourages people check in with lifeguards about water conditions first-thing during their visit.
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“Come to the beach, come prepared, check in with your lifeguard and swim near a lifeguard,” Stephens said.
“Rip currents don’t pull you under, they pull you out,” Stephens said, adding if you hit one of those currents be sure to wave your arm to get the attention of a lifeguard who can help.
“If you relax, your lifeguards are watching you and if you are in a guarded area, the lifeguards will come and rescue you,” he continued.
Lifeguards and SDPD officers will also be out and about near boating docks to make sure people have the correct equipment and that they are not operating vessels while under the influence.
“You can have alcohol aboard the vessel, but you can’t be under influence driving it,” SDPD Bay Safety Lt. Rick Romero said. “We have seen some accidents like that in the past.”
FOX 5/KUSI’s Danielle Dawson contributed to this story.
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