NATIONAL BEACH SAFETY WEEK 2026
Each year, the USLA celebrates National Beach Safety Week in an effort to remind beachgoers to use caution in the aquatic environment.
National Beach Safety Week begins May 18th, the Monday before Memorial Day, and ends on Memorial Day, May 25th.
This year, commemorate National Beach Safety Week by downloading and sharing the official social media assets at USLA.org/safety-week.
USLA’s Top Ten Beach and Water Safety Tips
Swim near a lifeguard
Learn to Swim
Learn rip current safety
Never swim alone
Designate a water watcher
Alcohol and water don’t mix
Feet first water entry
Life jackets save lives
Observe signs and flags
Beat the heat and block the sun
General Information on Drowning
Drowning is the fifth leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Among those ages 1 to14, drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths behind motor vehicle crashes. Drowning is responsible for more deaths among children ages 1 to 4 than any other cause except congenital anomalies (birth defects).
Fatal drowning is only the tip of the iceberg for aquatic injury. For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries. Some of these never fully recover.
Males are almost 80% of the fatal drowning victims. For boating related drowning deaths, the percent is even higher.
(The foregoing data came from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
Guide for Safety Tips
Swim Near a Lifeguard: Reports from lifeguard agencies nationwide consistently show that the odds of a swimmer fatally drowning at a beach protected by USLA affiliated lifeguards is 1 in 18 million (.0000055%). While swimmers must take some responsibility for their own safety, lifeguards are trained to recognize hazardous conditions, advise swimmers how to stay safe, respond to emergencies, and provide medical care for those in need. Lifeguards work to prevent drowning and injury through constant vigilance and interaction with the swimming public. When you arrive at the beach, check with lifeguards for designated swim areas and their safety advice.
Learn to Swim: Every day, about ten people die from unintentional drowning. Your best insurance against drowning is learning to swim. Participation in formal swim lessons can reduce the likelihood of childhood drowning death by 88%. Learning to swim means much more than learning strokes; it is learning water survival skills, water safety, and developing comfort and confidence in the water. Water safety is about having an educated respect for the water, including an understanding of the layers of protection needed to keep ourselves and our loved ones safer when in, on, and around water. If you cannot master the complete technique, at least learn to tread water so you can yell or wave your arms for attention should you find yourself in difficulty. When entering the open water remember: Never overestimate your swimming ability; don’t rely on inner tubes, plastic air mattresses, or other inflatable toys; and don’t float where you can’t swim.
When in doubt, don’t go out!
Learn Rip Current Safety: Rip currents are channelized currents of water flowing away from shore at surf beaches that typically form at breaks in sandbars and near structures such as piers and rock groins. The USLA has found that more than 80% of rescues by USLA affiliated lifeguards at ocean beaches are caused by rip currents. If you are caught in a rip current, relax, rip currents don't pull you under. Don’t swim against the current. You may be able to escape by swimming out of the current in a direction following the shoreline, or toward breaking waves, then at an angle toward the beach. Alternatively, you may be able to escape by floating or treading water if the current circulates back toward shore. If you feel you will be unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself. If you need help, yell and wave for assistance.
To help someone else caught in a rip current: Do not become a victim while trying to help someone else. Many people have died trying to rescue rip current victims. Instead, get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not present, call 9-1-1, while directing the victim to swim along the shoreline to escape. If possible, throw the rip current victim something that floats.
Never Swim Alone: Many fatal drowning deaths involve swimmers out in the water alone. Always swim with a buddy so that if one swimmer has a problem, the other can provide immediate assistance while signaling for assistance to others on the beach, including lifeguards
Designate a Water Watcher: Supervision could save a life. Watch all children and adolescents swimming or playing in or around water, even if they know how to swim. Young children or inexperienced swimmers need to be within arm’s reach of an adult at all times. When enjoying the beach with a group, make sure to designate a “Water Watcher” whose sole responsibility is to keep an eye on those in the water at all times. This is not a substitute for a lifeguard. Choose a lifeguard protected area and designate a "Water Watcher."
Alcohol and Water Don't Mix: Avoid water recreation when under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Alcohol influences balance, coordination, and judgment, and its effects are heightened by sun exposure and heat.
Feet First Water Entry: Life altering injuries from spinal damage, including paraplegia, occur every year on our nation’s beaches. The most common cause is diving headfirst and striking the bottom. In addition, surfing, bodyboarding, and bodysurfing can lead to spinal injuries if precautions are not taken to avoid striking the bottom headfirst. Check for depth and obstructions before entering the water, then go in feet first. Use caution when riding waves, always extending arms ahead of the body.
Life Jackets Save Lives: Children and non-swimmers should wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved, properly fitted life jacket when in or around the water and at the beach. Wearing a life jacket is the simplest life-saving strategy for recreational boating, paddling, or towed water sports. Some 77% of fatalities associated with boating accidents are from drowning, and 84% of those were not wearing life jackets. Most involve people who never expected to end up in the water, but fell overboard or ended up in the water when the boat sank. All children age 12 and under must wear a USCG approved lifejacket when on a moving watercraft.
Observe Signs and Flags: It sometimes seems as though there are too many signs, but the ones at the beach are intended to help keep you safe. Read the signs upon arrival to learn about hazards specific to that beach and local regulations. Also, look for flags flown by lifeguards to advise of hazards and temporary restrictions in effect. The best bet is to check in with the lifeguard on duty whenever a warning flag is flown.
Beat the Heat and Block the Sun: While everyone loves a sunny day, exposure to the heat and sun affects the body in multiple ways. Immediate effects include: Painful sunburn, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and potentially fatal heat stroke. Long term effects include: Skin cancer and premature aging. To protect yourself: Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol, take breaks inside during the hottest parts of the day, use "broad spectrum” sunscreen rated from 15 to 50 SPF and reapply throughout the day, use UPF protective clothing that covers the skin, and protect the eyes by wearing sunglasses that block 100% of UV rays. Lifeguards are well trained to deal with heat related emergencies, so if feeling ill request assistance.