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New BEach SAFE campaign launches for Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Fort Morgan and Baldwin County

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April 19, 2022
New BEach SAFE campaign launches for Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Fort Morgan, and across Baldwin County
Campaign keeps safety top-of-mind for both guests and residents

 
GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH, AL – With spring travel season in full swing and summer quickly approaching, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism (GSOBT), Gulf Shores Fire Department, Orange Beach Fire Department, Fort Morgan Volunteer Fire Department, Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency, Baldwin County Commission and Baldwin County 9-1-1 have united behind a county-wide beach safety campaign, coined BEach SAFE: Know Before You Go.
 
Championed by both the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach fire chiefs, BEach SAFE aims to create awareness among locals and guests on topics including beach conditions, warning flag systems, rip current awareness, safe swimming practices and more. Recognizing that not all beach areas on Alabama’s Gulf Coast have lifeguards, beach flags and patrols, BEach SAFE is designed to help individuals to stay informed and understand potential dangers. Core message points for the campaign include:
 
CHECK WEATHER AND SURF CONDITIONS DAILY
By phone:
KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS
  • Learn to swim; non-swimmers should stay out of the water
  • Don’t overestimate your swimming ability
  • Don’t rely on inner tubes, floats or other inflatable toys
  • Use Coast Guard approved lifejackets
  • Designate a water-watcher and supervise children closely
  • Never swim alone
SWIM NEAR A LIFEGUARD
  • Lifeguards are stationed seasonally at all public beaches in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach (March through September)
  • Currently, no lifeguard protection is available in the Fort Morgan area
SIGN UP FOR DAILY BEACH CONDITIONS TEXT ALERTS
  • Text “ALBEACHES” to “888777”
  • Text “STOP” to opt out of notifications upon your departure
KNOW AND HEED THE BEACH WARNING FLAGS
  • Yellow: Moderate surf and/or currents
  • Purple: Dangerous marine life
  • Red: High surf and/or strong currents
  • Double Red: Water closed to the public


LEARN HOW TO ESCAPE A RIP CURRENT
  • Rip currents are powerful currents of water moving away from shore. They can sweep even the strongest swimmer away from shore.
  • If caught in a rip current, remain calm
  • Escape the current by swimming parallel to the shoreline
  • When free of the current, swim at an angle—away from the current—toward shore
  • Float or tread water if unable to escape by swimming
  • If unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by facing the shore and calling or waving for help
 
KNOW WHAT TO DO IF SOMEONE ELSE IS IN DANGER
  • First, CALL 9-1-1
  • Seek help from a lifeguard; if no lifeguard is present, yell instructions on how to escape the current
  • Throw the victim something that floats
  • Don’t attempt to perform a rescue as you could also get caught in the current
 
“We want the memories taken home from our destination to be happy ones,” said Beth Gendler, president and CEO of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism. “Many of the people who choose our area for their vacations aren’t as familiar with the differences between swimming in the Gulf of Mexico versus swimming in waters where they live. We want them to get the information they need on beach conditions and what the beach flags mean so their visit is a safe and happy one.”

Gendler continued, “We know from the Leave Only Footprints and Worth the Wait campaigns we have launched in recent years that it takes all aspects of our community – the cities, local businesses, and residents – sharing a consistent message with our guests to make an impact. BEach SAFE is a united message across the entire county, which means businesses from the northern part of Baldwin County all the way down to the beaches can help share this information with guests and residents alike.”
 
“We’ve continued to work on our messaging related to beach safety,” said Orange Beach Fire Chief Mike Kimmerling. “But we are so blessed to have the support of all of these involved parties (across the county).”
 
“We’ve got to look at all things that are a threat to all of us,” said Gulf Shores Fire Chief Mark Sealy. “Creating awareness about this program can save lives each and every day.”
 
Free, downloadable assets for the BEach SAFE campaign – logos, social media graphics, key message points, QR code for signage and more – are available to businesses across Baldwin County and can be accessed online from Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism at https://gsobt.widencollective.com/portals/ilgvsgpz/BeachSafetyCampaignPortal.
 
Beach information can always be found on GulfShores.com and Orange Beach.com
 
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About Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism:
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism serves as the official destination marketing organization for the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in addition to the unincorporated area of Fort Morgan. To learn more about Alabama’s 32 miles of white-sand beaches, visit either GulfShores.com or OrangeBeach.com. This convention and visitors bureau is an accredited Destination Marketing Organization.
Contact:
Easton Colvin
EColvin@GulfShores.com

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