Daytona Beach Shores

This time of the year more people flock to the beaches of the Daytona Beach area, hoping to grab some waves and have fun. Yet we also get stories every year at this time about all the people who have to be rescued from the water, and sadly, some stories about people drowning off our beautiful beaches. The good news is there are some things you can do to help keep your family safer at the beach, so that everyone enjoys it, but goes home safely at the end of the day.

Whether you are visiting the beaches in Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, or somewhere else along the coast in Volusia County, there are some precautions you should take. It's important to always remember that the ocean is a powerful thing and can be dangerous if you are not taking the right precautions (and sometimes even when you are). Here are tips for staying safer on the beach in the Daytona Beach area:

• Know the water conditions. Volusia County displays beach warning signs each day to let people know what the water conditions are like. Many people pay no attention to these warning signs, but they provide important information to let you know if the water is unsafe that day. The beach warning flags are up when the toll booths are open and lifeguards are there. They are not up early in the morning or in the evening. You can find them by each beach entrance and by some lifeguard towers. Additionally, if you hear thunder it is time to leave the beach so there are not risks of being struck by lightning. Here's what the beach warning flags mean:

• Consider dangerous marine life. If the purple flag is up it indicates there is dangerous marine life. Sometimes you can see what it may be on the beach, such as a particular kind of jellyfish, but other times it may not be so apparent. Ask the person at the toll booth or a lifeguard what the dangerous marine life is, so you know what to be on the watch for. Note that if a surfer is bit by a shark in New Smyrna Beach, the purple flag will be up for the whole county. Often times when the purple flag is up it's due to stinging jellyfish. The small clear moon jellyfish that are common on the beach are not harmful to people, but there are other varieties that are. Although the stings cause pain, they are rarely serious enough to require medical attention. If possible, always carry a small bottle of vinegar with you to the beach. If someone is stung by a jellyfish just pour the vinegar on the sting. Do not rub it or put it under fresh water. The vinegar will neutralize it and take away the pain. If you do not have vinegar, go to a lifeguard station and they can assist you. It is also important to understand that even dead jellyfish can still sting you.

A few common jellyfish found on Daytona Beach.

• Pay attention to the cars. Many kids and adults forget that there are vehicles driving on the beach and they often walk right out in front of them without paying attention. You do have the option to go to a no-drive section of the beach, where cars are not allowed. If you choose to go to an area where vehicles are allowed, always be look before crossing the traffic area, don't sit or let your children play in the vehicle lanes, and keep close tabs on the little children, who may dart out in front of a vehicle.

Don't set up in the traffic lane like this person did.

• Watch for lifeguards. It's always safer to swim in front of a lifeguard station. They are not available during the early morning or evening hours, so you would want to keep that in mind. Having your children swim in front of a lifeguard doesn't mean you no longer have to pay attention to them, but it does mean there is some assistance available if it's needed for any reason.

One type of lifeguard tower on Daytona Beach.

• Understand rip currents. Rip currents are one of the most dangerous things that people can experience at the beach. They can pull you out farther in the water and lead to drowning. It's important to know what to do if you are caught in a rip current. Watch this short video on how to swim out of a rip current: