👑 Summertime is when people love traveling to the beach. If you plan on traveling to beach to go swimming, you should always check to see what beach flag is out that day. These flags let you know if it is safe to swim or not. Most popular beaches have lifeguards on duty that you can either ask about the swimming conditions or visually see what beach flag is flying.
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A few years ago, while beach hopping in Florida, I learned how important it was to understand what these flags meant. At one of the beaches we visited, there was 1 red flag up at the lifeguard station and even though we could still swim, it felt like the waves were beating my body to death. That was my ah-ha moment to actually find out what the flags meant and to pay attention to what flag was up prior to jumping in.
Now that I know how the flags make a difference, I wanted to make sure you did too. 🏖
Here is a quick and simple guide to the most common beach flags used:
Green flag – Green means you’re good to go. You should always use cautions while at the beach but this flag lets you know that the water is calm and the conditions are favorable for the public.
Yellow flag – Yellow means there is a medium hazard and you need to use caution while swimming. There may be strong currents or signs of potential high surf. You should swim near lifeguards when the yellow flag is out.
Purple flag – Marine life danger. This could be any type of dangerous sea animal that has been spotted in the area like sharks, stingrays or jellyfish. Steer clear and stay out of the water!
1 Red flag – This red flag means there is a high hazard to swimmers. There could be a very strong current and/or high surf. You can still swim with only 1 red flag out but it’s highly recommended that you don’t because the conditions are dangerous for even the most experienced swimmers.
2 Red flags – Double red flags on one pole indicate that the conditions are extremely high hazard and there is absolutely no swimming allowed! Stay out of water!
There are other beach flags that are used too but I wanted to give you the simplest version I could. Now if you see different flags than the ones listed above, make sure you find out what they mean prior to getting in the water.
Remember that just because you don’t see a flag or a flag isn’t there, doesn’t make the water safe to get in.
When planning to take a trip to a beach, I suggest doing a little bit of research. Find out if any lifeguards are on duty, where the closest place to get first aid is and what type of beach flags or warning signs are used. You should always know your surroundings, use safety precautions while swimming and supervise children when at the beach. The flags and posted signs are there for your protection and safety.
Now that you know what to look for and what to research, you can plan your next trip to the beach. 🏝 Don’t forget to like, share and leave a comment below and get on the email list before you go. Remember sharing is caring. Have a blessed day and live a life of royalty! 👑