JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Thousands of people are expected to fill Jacksonville Beach this Fourth of July weekend, and lifeguards have a clear message for every family heading to the water: check the conditions before you get in.
Lifeguard Max Ervanian said the basics can make all the difference.
“We have to remind all bathers and beachgoers to stay safe and be mindful of your surroundings,” Ervanian said. “Be mindful of where the closest lifeguard is, be mindful where the children you came to the beach with, and be mindful of the ocean conditions that are present for the day.”
Red flags up as conditions turn choppy
Red flags are posted along the beach this holiday weekend, warning swimmers about strong currents that can shift without warning.
Ervanian said conditions are worth watching closely heading into the weekend.
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“We do have some swells coming in. The shore break is a little powerful,” he said. “However, if we see the winds dying down or the conditions changing, we’re no stranger to changing the condition flag and alerting bathers and beachgoers through our online channels of the change in ocean conditions.”
Lifeguards say the three most important steps before entering the water are: check the flag conditions, swim near a lifeguard, and keep children within arm’s reach at all times.
Visitors and locals alike flock to the shore
The beach drew a mix of out-of-towners and longtime residents ahead of the holiday. Ian Tyler, a student visiting from the Gulf Coast for a summer internship, said the Atlantic side surprised him.
“This is my first time coming to the East Coast like this,” Tyler said. “It’s completely different than the Gulf where I normally go. It’s a way more chill environment. It’s like a community more than just a bunch of tourists.”
His sister Emma Tyler made the trip specifically for the holiday.
“I’m kind of just here to visit him for his summer internship,” she said. “I wanted to come see him and enjoy the Fourth at the beach for the first time.”
Resident Charles Hamilton brought his son and grandchildren out for the day. His grandson Hamilton Wilkes had his priorities set.
“Fireworks, we’re having a plan with fireworks and our neighbors — we are going to launch at the same time and it’s going to be a blast,” Wilkes said.
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Families planning ahead for the heat
With temperatures nearing triple digits, beachgoers say they are also preparing for the heat on the sand. Hamilton summed up his family’s game plan simply:
“A lot of sunscreen, a lot of shade, and a lot of adult eyeballs to watch the little ones,” he said.
Fireworks are expected to draw large crowds back to the beach Friday night for the Fourth of July celebration.
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