Our Tips for Beach Safety

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach

Make the most of your beach day in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach with these simple safety tips to protect you and local wildlife.

February 23, 2022

We all love soaking up the sun and playing in the coastal waves of our beautiful Alabama beaches. After all, they’re what makes our destination so special. While relaxing and playing on the beach can be a blast, it’s important to take the right steps to ensure your own safety as well as the creatures who call it home. Whether you’re out in the sand or on the water, here are a few tips for a safe beach outing.

1. The beach is the best place to relax and bask in the sun, but without sunscreen, the aftermath of soaking up rays can be quite painful. Remember to always wear sunscreen when you’re out and about. This is especially important during the summer months when the sun is shining all day. Don’t forget to also bring sunglasses and a hat with you for extra protection. You can get too much of a good thing, so don’t forget these items before venturing out in the warm Alabama sunshine.

2. Take care when exploring the sand. Many creatures call our beaches home, and you might happen upon a sea turtle nest or a tiny bird’s nest. If you do encounter these animals or their nests, leave them undisturbed as messing with them can be harmful to their livelihood. Keep in mind that our sea turtles are protected under the Endangered Species Act, making it unlawful to disturb nests, hatchlings and sea turtles.

3. If you want to protect the beauty of the beach and the animals who call it home, keep off the sand dunes. They preserve natural habitats and prevent beach erosion. Beach boardwalks and walkovers are plentiful and will get you to the shore.
Being out in the sun for long periods of time can lead to dehydration. You should always bring water with you when you head to the beach and stay hydrated throughout the day. This is crucial during the summer months as the temperatures can get particularly high.

4. When you visit our beaches, take nothing but pictures and leave only footprints. Always clean up after yourself, and don’t forget your beach chairs and towels. Keeping our beaches clean is vital to maintaining their beauty. Anything left after sunset will be removed and disposed of by our beach patrol.

5. Observe and obey the Beach Warning Flag System. Both Gulf Shores and Orange Beach offer a helpful Beach Warning Flag System with color-coded flags to let you know about current water conditions, so you can avoid dangerous situations and rip currents and stay safe in the water. Each city also offers a hotline to call if you don’t see a flag where you are staying.

For current conditions in Gulf Shores, dial 251-968-SURF (7873). For current conditions in Orange Beach, dial 251-981-SURF (7873).

A text messaging program is also available, which sends daily messages about beach conditions and warning flag status. Sign up by texting ALBEACHES to 888777. At the end of your stay, you can easily opt-out from these text alerts by texting STOP.

Yellow Flag: Medium hazard with moderate surf conditions.
Purple Flag: Dangerous marine life is present.
Red Flag: High hazard with high surf and strong currents.
Double Red Flag: Water closed to the public. Please be aware when a double red flag is flying water conditions are not safe for swimming. We suggest enjoying the sand or pool.