MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – A new campaign aims to keep you safe while visiting Alabama’s Gulf Coast. It’s called the Beach Safe campaign.

This is a partnership between the Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan Volunteer Fire Departments, along with Baldwin County EMA and Gulf Shores Orange Beach Tourism.

The campaign includes video, audio and graphics to alert swimmers to beach conditions, including rip currents, which are the number one weather-related killer along the northern Gulf Coast .

The objective is to reach bathers before they reach the beach.

“When they get here, and they’re already on vacation and their feet are touching the sand, you know, the saying we’d like is, ‘Know before you go,'” explained Brett Lessinger, the director of the safety of Orange Beach Beach.

Here’s what officials want you to know:

• Check the current beach conditions and know what each flag represents.
• Swim near a lifeguard and check with lifeguards.

“Do a self-responsibility check,” Lessinger added.

• Am I a good swimmer?
• Is it a day that I can go in the water and swim to the sandbar?
• Am I missing the swimming skills I need to stay closer to shore.
• Also check with lifeguards. They can help you identify the best places to swim.

“We want them to come on vacation and enjoy their time,” he explained, “but we also want them to understand, you know, beach safety and all the beach stuff.”

You can sign up for alerts to get daily beach conditions. Just text ALBEACHES to 888777.

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