GALVESTON – Fourth of July celebrations saw thousands of Houstonians hitting the beach, which means Galveston Beach Patrol had their work cut out for them. Lifeguards with the patrol made over 13,000 preventative actions over the course of the celebrations, and fortunately they didn’t have to make any water rescues, instead spending much of their time treating heat-related medical issues.
“Preventative actions” differ from “life-saving actions” in that they consist mostly of lifeguards telling swimmers to move out of certain areas or verbally discouraging dangerous activity. In other words, Galveston Beach Patrol had their work cut out for them, but were able to keep vacationers safe due to careful planning and foresight.
According to Galveston Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis, these numbers are fairly standard for the Fourth of July. However, he said that the bigger challenge for the patrol is still ahead, as weather conditions are likely to get worse due to Hurricane Beryl.
“Over the weekend, we’re anticipating an increase in surf, rip current strength, and possibly an increase in tides,” Davis said. “Conditions might not be too bad, but we’re gonna give it a day or so to see how things shake out with Beryl.”
If conditions with Beryl get significantly worse, the Beach Patrol would primarily be focused on moving their equipment further up the beach, since higher tides could potentially damage valuable items such as the patrol’s jet skis.
While the Beach Patrol would be responsible for moving their lifesaving equipment, they would also be working with other groups to move large equipment like the lifeguard towers and the hundreds of trash cans that dot the beach. But even if conditions worsen, Davis encouraged vacationers to stick to basic safety tips as they plan their trip to Galveston.
“Don’t check your brain in the causeway,” Davis said, referring to a Galveston saying about losing common sense while on vacation. “Always swim near a lifeguard, don’t mix alcohol and swimming, and try to designate someone as a “water watcher” to keep an eye on your group without any distractions.”
Davis also recommended not swimming near the ends of the islands and avoiding structures like piers or jetties, since rip currents tend to form in those areas. Rip currents and rough surf are likely to occur on this upcoming Sunday, so travelers might want to adjust their plans and pick something else to do if they plan to be in Galveston on that day.
At the end of the day, the Beach Patrol encouraged travelers to plan their trips thoroughly and check the Patrol’s website for additional safety tips.
But even in the worst-case scenario, they say they’re more than ready to tackle the challenge.
“Take care of you and yours, and we’ll be there for you if anything goes wrong.”