Beachgoers should check warning flags, fire department says

The Longboat Key Fire Department wants to remind residents and summer visitors of ways to check beach conditions before visiting the island or while out driving on Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Because the town does not employ lifeguards or have the traditional stands in which to hang water condition flags, it is imperative that residents are aware of how to check conditions before they enter the waters.  

While the location of the flags is not new, department personnel want to remind visitors and residents of the location ahead of an increase in summer beach-going crowds. 

“With summer coming up, we get a little bit more visitation to the beach,” said Tina Adams, public information officer for the department. “We want to remind everybody out here, visitors and residents, that we don’t have lifeguards on our beaches. We do rely upon the public themselves to make sure they understand the type of waters they are getting into.”

Flags of different colors fly outside each fire station on the island under the American flag to notify passersby of current beach conditions. The stations are located at 5490 Gulf of Mexico Drive and 2162 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Each flag color corresponds to a level of hazard:

• Green: Low hazard, calm conditions 
• Yellow: Medium hazard, light surf and/or rip currents 
• Purple: Marine pest (jellyfish, stingrays and other dangerous fish) 
• Red: High hazard, rough conditions such as strong surf and/or currents 
• Double red: Water closed to public use. A hurricane or high bacteria levels from red tide would warrant this flag placement.

Department personnel receive notification of conditions each day from Mote Marine Aquarium and Laboratory and place the flag associated with those reports. 

If you want to check conditions before leaving your home, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium has a beach conditions reporting system that is updated regularly from beach ambassador and community reports. 

The system shows conditions for 12 of the state’s west coast counties including Sarasota and Manatee counties. 

When in doubt, Adams said the department welcomes phone calls to the station for any questions about beach conditions and whether it is safe to swim. 

Ensuring knowledge of rip currents and how to get out of one is another crucial bit of information the department wants to ensure is shared. On Longboat Key, a particularly dangerous place for rip currents is by New Pass Bridge. 

Adams urges anyone that gets stuck in that situation to remember not to fight against the current, but rather swim out with the current then to shore. If you are unable to escape, call or wave for help while floating or treading water.

“We’re hoping to provide information and a reminder to the public that we don’t have lifeguards, so please be cautious of the waterways,” she said. 

The department’s firefighters are also trained as paramedics and will respond to emergency alerts, but it is still important to know what hazards you might be facing to keep yourself, family and friends safe.