Beach Safety with a Myrtle Beach Legend

Summertime is in full swing here at Ocean Lakes and that means time spent at the pool, Tie Dye Wednesdays are back, and all the ice cream you could ever want! And let’s not forget BEACH DAYS!  

With a mile stretch of oceanfront, the beach is a popular amenity when staying in the campground. Guests and Leaseholders thoroughly enjoy walking the beach or sitting to take in the view and catch a few rays. While the beach is a place to make family memories, find your inner peace, and kick back and relax… There are safety precautions one must take in order to have a safe and enjoyable time.

To go over some beach safety tips with us is none other than Duke Brown! Duke is Horry County Police Department’s Beach Safety Director. From working as a beach lifeguard, to teaching at the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, launching the Junior Lifeguard Program, and serving as Horry County’s Beach Safety Director, he has seen a thing or two! 


The Man, The Myth, The Legend – Duke Brown | Duke was a schoolteacher for 41 years and has been the Beach Safety Coordinator for Horry County for 35 years. He has worked around the beach as either a Lifeguard or a Beach Officer for 58 summers. Duke is an Instructor/Trainer for the American Red Cross, an Instructor for the USLA, and he is in the National Registry for Advanced EMT. Not only has he been involved with a team that wrote two USLA textbooks, but he is also an External Reviewer for the Aquatic Red Cross Courses. Safe to say that this man knows his stuff!


Fun Fact: His family owned a site in Ocean Lakes for 50 years and he was one of the very first Lifeguards at Ocean Lakes!


Top 18 Beach Safety Tips | This week, we are sitting down with Duke to review his top 18 beach safety tips. Let’s get started so we will be ready for summertime in Myrtle Beach:
  1. Prior to arriving to the beach, prepare for your day on the beach! Make sure you carry sunscreen, have water to stay hydrated, know who is with you, have a plan of action if you have small children, and check the weather and surf conditions prior to your beach day.
  2. Swim near a Lifeguard!
  3. Swim with a buddy!
  4. Do not go any further than 50-yards or chest deep (this is actually an ordinance).
  5. Know how to swim. If you are not a strong swimmer, wear a life jacket. 
  6. Always have a ‘water watcher’ for all children. This means a person on the beach, near the water observing (arms distance).
  7. If your child becomes lost, immediately tell a Lifeguard or Beach Patrol Officer.
  8. Make sure you monitor younger and older people. They are more prone to have a medical emergency or event.
  9. Fill all holes that were dug. 
  10. Flotation devices must be fabric covered with a 360-degree rope, boogie boards must have a leash, and devices must be Coast Guard approved.
  11. All umbrellas must be behind the established umbrella line. The only shading device allowed is a single-pole umbrella and an infant structure, which is 4 x 3 x 3. The Shibumi Shades or canopies are not allowed. 
  12. Dogs are only allowed on the beach before 10 AM and after 5 PM from May 1st through Labor Day. 
  13. Glass and alcohol are prohibited on the beach.
  14. Do not swim at daybreak or at night. Be aware of schools of fish close to shore – Larger fish follow these schools of fish. 
  15. If there is a large number of Man o’ Wars washing ashore or Jellyfish/Man o’ War stings, it would be a good day to stay on the beach and not go in the water. It is recommended to carry white vinegar with you to apply to stings, if needed.
  16. As you walk through the surf, shuffle your feet. This will lessen the chance of being affected by a Stingray injury. 
  17. Please take your trash with you when you leave the beach. 
  18. If you are unsure about an ordinance, check with a Lifeguard or view the ordinances posted on the back of the Lifeguards’ chairs. 
Extra Resources | For more information on Horry County's Beach Ordinances and beach safety tips, here are a few extra resources: 


If you ever need to review the Beach Rules and Laws, visit our website: https://www.oceanlakes.com/about-us/policies/beach-laws-and-tents/. 

To learn more about our beaches, visit: https://www.checkmybeach.com/. 

To view more of Horry County’s Beach Ordinances and Policies, head on over to their website: https://www.horrycountysc.gov/about-our-beaches/. 

For more beach safety tips, visit: https://www.usla.org/. 

Until Next Time | We hope you all take these beach safety tips and put them to good use this summer, whether you are at Ocean Lakes or visiting another beach vacation destination. Remember, if you ever have questions or concerns, or need assistance, seek out a lifeguard on the beach. They are always happy to help!


Wishing you all a fun and safe summer from your Happy Place! 

Location: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Introducing The NEW Campsite Wi-Fi Tiered Program

Image
Listen up, Ocean Lakes Campers, we hear you! We know that sometimes the Wi-Fi speed in the campground can be a little frustrating. We listened to you, we heard you, and we are making some big changes that we hope makes Campsite Wi-Fi better. How? We are rolling out a NEW Wi-Fi Tiered Program on Monday, April 8 th . Yes, we will still have FREE Wi-Fi! But we will offer some upgrade options tailored to meet camping guests’ data speed needs (what a tongue twister!). Now with campsite guests logging into the Wi-Fi system, we have locked down the system saving the Wi-Fi access points and data speed. We need to make one thing crystal clear: This new system helps data speed - Signal reception may still be a challenge for some campers/RV units.  So, here’s the scoop on Tiered Wi-Fi and the “how to” for when you arrive on your campsite. Free Wi-Fi For All Guests | Rest assured, we will still offer FREE Wi-Fi for ALL guests. Visit the Wireless Zones loc
Read more

Spring Into Easter | Easter Themed Activities

Image
Spring has sprung here at Ocean Lakes, and it's just in time for all the Easter and spring break activities. We are so egg-cited, and we have so many fun activities planned, from having a hoppin' good time with Peter Cotton Tail himself to Bird Bingo, to Glow Golf, to Yoga With a View, to worshiping together as we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. There is so much for everyone of all ages to do this week! Easter-Themed Activities this Week | Maundy Service | Thursday March 28th, 7:30 PM All are welcome to join Reverend Lawton as he leads the Maundy Thursday service. Maundy Commemorates the Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples. Jesus breaks bread, saying, "This is my body," and pours wine, saying, "This is my blood." Easter Bonnet Contest | Have your family create your very own custom Easter Bonnet at home. When you're done, bring your finished bonnet to the Recreation Office anytime on Friday, March 29th, before 8 PM. Ocean Lakes
Read more

Commence the Maintenance Projects | An Ocean Lakes Maintenance Update

Image
An Ocean Lakes Maintenance Update With fall comes the start of lots of new projects! Our Team is already hard at work to make sure our guests have the best.  We are so excited for everyone to see all the improvements that will be happening around Ocean Lakes. Follow along to see just what our Maintenance Team is up to! I Bathhouse Family Addition | The famil y addition to the I Bathhouse is well underway! This new addition is expected to be done by the Easter Holiday. Raise The Roof |   The 2000's Bathhouse roofing update is complete! Thank you for your patience while our Team works hard to make sure we are in tip top shape. Paving The Way |  Shortly after the Thanksgiving Holiday our Maintenance Team will begin converting several sites to concrete pads. These Sites I nclude: 2120 2135 2167 2181 2121 K64 K42 K56 K20 K11 K10 3162 3150 3137 Ready, Set, Climb! |    Our new playground features wiggly bridges, the O-Zone 3-Ring Climber, two different slides and much more all protected
Read more