Summer 2022 has officially arrived with start of Memorial Day Weekend and the Town of Kill Devil Hills is ensuring that safety is the number one priority for beach-goers during their time along the Banks.
These include safety measures such as knowing where lifeguard stands are located, how to spot a rip current in the ocean, and how to escape one if you find yourself caught in the currents.
Lifeguards are on stands 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. At this time, lifeguards are on stands at the following locations in KDH:
- Helga St.
- Hayman Blvd.
- Avalon Dr.
- 5th St.
- 3rd St.
- 2nd St.
- 1st St.
- Asheville Dr.
- Woodmere Ave.
- Carlow Ave.
- Ocean Bay Blvd.
- Oregon Ave.
- Clark St.
- Martin St.
- Atlantic St.
- Neptune Dr.
- 8th St.
Please consider planning your beach day at a location where a lifeguard is present. ALWAYS check with them for beach conditions and answers to your beach questions.
Swimming in the ocean is not the same as swimming in a pool or lake. Wind, waves, the change of the tide, the slope of the beach, an other factors can cause strong currents to be present in the water even on the calmest days. Ocean conditions can change from day to day and hour to hour. Before going in the water, spend a few moments watching the waves. Wave patterns are a good indicator of the presence of currents and of places where deep water and other “surprises” are located.
Some clues that a rip current may be present:
• A channel of churning, choppy water
• A difference in water color
• A line of foam, seaweed, or debris moving seaward
• A break in the incoming wave pattern
If you are caught in a rip current:
• Stay calm and don’t fight the current.
• Escape the current by swimming in a direction following the shoreline. When free of the current, swim at an angle away from the current and toward shore.
• If you are unable to escape by swimming, float or tread water. When the current weakens, swim at an angle away from the current toward the shore.
• If at any time you feel you will be unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself: face the shore, yell and wave for help.
When in doubt, don’t go out.