Beach Safety Week Culminates In Orange County: San Clemente

SAN CLEMENTE, CA — Orange County is home to some of the nicest weather, beaches, and surf found anywhere in the world. But although it’s fun and exciting, the ocean can also be very dangerous. Last year San Clemente lifeguards rescued over 1,500 swimmers in distress from our waters. Lifeguards estimate that 80 to 90% of these rescues were swimmers caught in rip currents.

Just this week in Laguna Beach, an elderly woman was swept from the rocks to her death. Read: Coroner IDs Woman Swept Off Laguna Coast

With rip currents, rising tides and warmer weather, City of San Clemente has shared information about the dangers of the ocean and open water, at the end of National Beach Safety week. In an effort to support Beach Safety Week and to increase beach and ocean safety awareness, the

San Clemente City Lifeguards will be hosting a free Open House at the Marine Safety Headquarters
on Saturday, May 28th. The Open House is your opportunity to tour lifeguard headquarters and talk to some of the lifeguards you see in the towers and on the beach. They will share ocean and beach safety tips with you and your family. The open house will run from 9 am until 12 pm. All ages are welcome. Marine Safety Headquarters is located on the beach, just north of the pier.

In addition to the open house, San Clemente Lifeguards will be also be offering free, one-hour Ocean
Safety Clinics where you will learn about ocean safety and have an opportunity to get into the water
with a lifeguard - learning how to negotiate waves and get out of rip currents. This is open to the
public on the second and forth Saturdays in June and July (June 16 and 30, and July 14 and 28).
The clinics will be conducted at Marine Safety Headquarters from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. If you are new
to town or just want to learn more about how to keep your family or yourself safe at the beach, this is
a great opportunity.

If you can’t attend the Open House or the free Ocean Safety Clinics, following are some tips the
lifeguards would like to share:

• Learn to swim
• Swim near a lifeguard
• Never swim alone
• Check with the lifeguards before going into the water
• Learn rip current safety
• Obey posted signs and flags
• Use sunscreen

Lifeguards encourage beachgoers to always contact a lifeguard before going in the ocean. The lifeguards will have the best information about the surf size, ocean conditions, and any hazards that may not be apparent.

Photo of the week, courtesy Laguna Beach's Greg Viviani, SoLagLocal on Instagram