Image by Flickr user maryaustinphoto

Memorial Day weekend is coming up, and with it, the kick-off of this beach season.

And you know what that means: doing all we can to ensure beach safety. Lifeguards and other safety personnel are getting ready for the upcoming weekend and doing their best to publicize what people should do to ensure a safe and fun day at the beach.

To remind people about the importance of being careful while at the beach, this week (May 23rd-30th) has been declared National Beach Safety Week by the U.S. Lifesaving Association. On Saturday, May 28th, local county parks will be putting on demonstrations and handing out safety information.

Here are a few tips to keep this beach season as safe as possible:

• Become acquainted with the parking rules and no-parking zones at whichever beach you frequent. Getting a parking ticket is just one thing that can ruin a great day at the beach.
• Swim near a lifeguard stand and/or with a friend for optimal safety.
• Don't forget plenty of water and sunscreen to avoid becoming overheated.
• Become educated regarding rip current safety.

If you'd like to learn more about beach safety, head to one of the three county beach parks (Isle of Palms County Park at Stand 11, Kiawah Beachwalker Park at Stand 42, or Folly Beach County Park at Stand 32) this Saturday for safety demonstrations. The schedule is:

• 11:30 a.m. - Swim rescue scenario
• 1:30 p.m. - Marine life information
• 3:30 p.m. - Board rescue scenario

For more information about the demonstrations, contact Cole Thomas at (843) 886-3863 or cthomas@ccprc.com.

The Post and Courier has a great, in-depth write-up with tips about beach safety; read it here.