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Glynn County beach operations manager says lifeguards fully staffed and urges safety ahead of July 2 National Beach Safety Week
Summary
Paris, Glynn County beach operations manager, said lifeguard coverage is fully staffed for the season (23 lifeguards), described daily operations and flagging, and promoted National Beach Safety Week events on July 2 at the Coast Guard station on St. Simons Beach.
Paris, Glynn County beach operations manager, said the county’s lifeguard staff is fully staffed for the first time this season and outlined safety measures ahead of the summer season and National Beach Safety Week.
The update matters because county officials linked improved staffing and new signage technology to daily safety operations at popular beaches and said the public should know how to respond to common water hazards such as longshore currents and marine life.
"This is the first year that we are fully staffed," Paris said. "I became a lifeguard in 2017, and we never got to fully staff. So this is my first year in being manager that we have 23 lifeguards this season, which has been great." She said lifeguards patrol Coast Guard Beach to Massengale from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and that the county runs sandbar patrols later in the season.
Paris described the county’s public guidance and new technology: green, yellow and red flags on lifeguard stands indicate progressively higher caution, and the county installed "swim smart" digital signage at Coast Guard Beach, Massengale Beach and Golds Inlet that ties into National Weather Service information. She also described a purple flag used to warn of marine‑life issues such as a concentration of jellyfish.
On how to handle currents, Paris explained the difference between rip currents and longshore currents and advised what to do: "Longshore current is harder to see from the top of the water, but once you get in the water, it's gonna pull you parallel to shore ... You don't wanna fight the current at all. You wanna float with the current, and then you wanna either swim diagonally into shore. Or if you get to a weaker spot, you can swim directly into shore." She emphasized that swimmers should "swim near a lifeguard" and "know your tides. The tides are very drastically changing here daily."
Paris said the county will observe National Beach Safety Week on July 2 at the Coast Guard station at St. Simons Beach with pamphlets, promotional items and family outreach. She also said the county plans a permanent life‑saving tower with an indoor first‑aid room to improve on‑site care and coordination with EMS.
Bill Fallon, Glynn County manager, separately noted that county pools had 55 seasonal positions filled this year. Paris closed by stressing prevention: "We're not out here to ruin your fun... We're just trying to keep everybody safe. We're the last defense before drowning."
