{"id":328604,"date":"2026-07-03T17:09:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T17:09:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/328604\/"},"modified":"2026-07-03T17:09:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T17:09:09","slug":"sun-surf-celebrations-how-to-avoid-trouble-in-the-water-this-july-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/328604\/","title":{"rendered":"Sun, surf, celebrations: How to avoid trouble in the water this July 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. \u2013 July 4th is Saturday, and it\u2019s America\u2019s 250th birthday, so it\u2019s going to be a big one.<\/p>\n

There are events all over the city and the surrounding area \u2014 some even starting Friday.<\/p>\n

RELATED | America 250: Where you can watch fireworks, celebrate in your community<\/a><\/p>\n

But for many Floridians, the plan is the same: going to the beach to enjoy the day, then watching the fireworks at night.<\/p>\n

With crowds expected all across Florida\u2019s beaches Friday through the weekend and lots of people getting into the water, safety is a big talking point.<\/p>\n

To help you plan a fun, safe day, Maxwell Ervanian, Training and Operations Officer for Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue, joined us on The Morning Show to talk about what beachgoers should keep in mind before they hit the sand.<\/p>\n

Be mindful of lifeguards, kids & conditions<\/p>\n

Ervanian\u2019s biggest advice is simple: be mindful of your surroundings.<\/p>\n

That starts with knowing where the closest lifeguard is and choosing a spot where you can easily get help if needed.<\/p>\n

It also means keeping a close eye on children in your group and paying attention to ocean conditions and weather.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease check your conditions before coming to the beach,\u201d Ervanian said.<\/p>\n

The ocean can change quickly<\/p>\n

A holiday beach day can feel relaxing, but Ervanian said that\u2019s exactly when people can let their guard down.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe beach is a great place to enjoy your days off\u2026 but we have to be mindful that the ocean conditions are constantly changing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Even if the water looks calm when you arrive, surf, wind and currents can shift throughout the day.<\/p>\n

Swim with a buddy & near a lifeguard<\/p>\n

Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue stations lifeguards up and down the shoreline, including a watchtower at headquarters near the end of Beach Boulevard.<\/p>\n

If you plan to get into the water, Ervanian recommends two key habits:<\/p>\n

Swim near a lifeguard<\/p>\n

Swim with a buddy<\/p>\n

If someone runs into trouble, having another person nearby can make a critical difference \u2014 whether that\u2019s helping someone get attention or quickly alerting a lifeguard.<\/p>\n

Talk to your kids before you hit the sand<\/p>\n

Crowded holiday beaches can be overwhelming \u2014 especially for kids.<\/p>\n

Ervanian says families should have a quick safety conversation before the first towel goes down.<\/p>\n

His advice:<\/p>\n

Tell kids it\u2019s OK to\u00a0go to a lifeguard\u00a0if they can\u2019t find the adults they came with.<\/p>\n

Encourage families to\u00a0introduce kids to the lifeguard\u00a0when they arrive.<\/p>\n

That quick introduction can help children feel more comfortable asking for help if they get separated.<\/p>\n

Know what flags mean & don\u2019t wave them off<\/p>\n

Ocean conditions can change quickly, and flag warnings are one way rescue crews communicate risk to beachgoers.<\/p>\n

Ervanian noted that Jacksonville Beach was flying a red flag on Friday, citing choppy conditions and a powerful shore break.<\/p>\n

He said conditions and flags can change, and beachgoers should stay alert for updates. Never assume it is safe to swim if there\u2019s no flag. Here\u2019s what the different colors mean:<\/p>\n

Green Flag – Calm Ocean Conditions. Swim near a lifeguard.<\/p>\n

Yellow Flag – Moderate Ocean Conditions. Waves, long-shore currents, and rip currents are present; danger may increase greatly depending on tide and\/or location. Check with your lifeguard before entering the water.<\/p>\n

Red Flag – Dangerous Ocean Conditions. Persistent large waves, strong long-shore current, strong rip currents.<\/p>\n

Double Red Flag – No water activity allowed. Water is closed.<\/p>\n

Purple Flag – Dangerous Marine Life Present. Although there is always dangerous marine life in the ocean, when the purple flag is seen flown, bathers should be alert that there is an influx of dangerous marine life at the time.<\/p>\n

For more information on ocean condition flags, visit the Jacksonville Beach Safety Tips page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you hear a whistle, look \u2014 and follow directions<\/p>\n

Lifeguards may use whistles and hand signals to get swimmers\u2019 attention, especially if someone is drifting toward a dangerous area.<\/p>\n

Ervanian\u2019s advice:<\/p>\n

If a lifeguard is\u00a0whistling\u00a0and\u00a0pointing\u00a0toward you,\u00a0follow the hand motion.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not sure whether the lifeguard is signaling you,\u00a0get out of the water and ask.<\/p>\n

And before you enter the ocean, he says it\u2019s always smart to ask:<\/p>\n

Where is the safest place to swim today?<\/p>\n

Are there any areas we should avoid?<\/p>\n

\u201cAsk the lifeguard where the best place to swim is, where the safest place to swim is,\u201d Ervanian said.<\/p>\n

Quick beach-safety checklist for July 4 weekend<\/p>\n

Before you head out, consider this quick checklist:<\/p>\n

Pick a spot\u00a0near a lifeguard<\/p>\n

Keep children within arm\u2019s reach and set a clear\u00a0family meeting point<\/p>\n

Check\u00a0weather\u00a0(heat, storms, wind) and plan water breaks<\/p>\n

Look for beach\u00a0warning flags\u00a0and posted advisories<\/p>\n

Swim with a buddy \u2014 and listen for\u00a0whistles\/hand signals<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re headed out to celebrate, rescue crews say the goal is simple: enjoy the beach \u2014 and make it home safe.<\/p>\n

Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. \u2013 July 4th is Saturday, and it\u2019s America\u2019s 250th birthday, so it\u2019s going to be…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":328605,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[93153,502,76223,116,118,117,53221,5436,11387,504],"class_list":["post-328604","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-jacksonville","tag-beach-safety","tag-community","tag-fourth-of-july","tag-jacksonville","tag-jacksonville-headlines","tag-jacksonville-news","tag-july-4th","tag-morning-show","tag-parenting","tag-safety"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328604","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=328604"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328604\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/328605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=328604"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=328604"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=328604"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}