Beach Safety Checklist:

1. Rip Current Awareness: 

- Watch "Rip Current Safety for Kids" videos on Ocean Today (noaa.gov).

- Learn how to "Break the Grip of the Rip" from Ocean Today's tips. 
 

2. Flag Warning System: 

- Understand the flag warnings indicated by Galveston Island Beach Patrol.
  Flag Warning System – galvestonislandbeachpatrol.com

3. Fire Safety: 

- Properly extinguish fires with water. Use at least two 5-gallon buckets of water to drown hot coals. Fill in fire holes with sand and drown them with water. 

4. Sand Hole Safety: 

- Fill in any holes or trenches created in the sand to prevent accidents, especially at night when vehicles might drive on the beach. 

5. Dune Awareness: 

- Avoid dunes due to potential risks like poisonous snakes. Texas protects these areas with hefty fines for trespassing. 

6. Traffic Awareness: 

- Treat the beach like a roadway; watch out for moving vehicles. Explain to children the potential risks and ensure they stay safe. 

7. Pallet Burning Warning: 

- Avoid burning pallets due to nails left behind after they burn down, posing a risk to people, especially children and pets. 

8. Life Jacket Safety: 

- Ensure kids wear life jackets; they significantly increase safety in water. 

9. Sitting on Vehicles Awareness: 

- Avoid dangling feet from trucks or golf carts to prevent injuries from sand hazards like sticks, glass, or debris. 

10. Bacteria Testing: 

- Check “Texas Beach Watch” weekly for updated bacteria levels for safe beach visits. 

11. Leash Your Pets: 

- Keep animals on a leash to prevent them from running away or causing harm due to new stimuli overload. 

12. Walking Technique:

- As you stroll through the water, keep your toes nestled in the sand and gently slide your foot forward instead of lifting it off the ground. This technique maintains constant contact with the sand, reducing the risk of stepping on a stingray. If a stingray is nudged by your foot, they usually move away. However, stepping on one might prompt them to defensively swing their barbed tail. This walking method is often known as the "Stingray Shuffle" among surf fishermen.

Do you have more beach safety suggestions?
Email: Michael.Lentz@co.galveston.tx.us