Outer Banks Beach Safety Guidance

A visit to the beautiful beaches of the Outer Banks can become a lasting and joyful memory for travelers and families. Whether you plan to swim, sail, surf, walk along the sand, relax in the sun, or take part in other coastal activities, the goal is for your beach time to stay both enjoyable and safe.

Love the Beach, Respect the Ocean and Current TV have created several short Beach Hazard PSA videos focused on beach safety on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. These videos explain how to enjoy the beach while showing respect for the ocean, sharing practical guidance that helps visitors stay safe and pass along lifesaving information.

Topics covered include:

• Digging Holes on the Beach
• Exposure to the Sun
• Rip Currents
• Beach Warning Flags
• Lifeguarded Beaches
• Jellyfish
• Sharks
• Severe Weather/Hurricanes
• FAQ

Digging Holes on the Beach

Current TV, working with the Town of Kill Devil Hills, has shared a public education video about the hazards connected with digging deep holes in the sand and the public safety concerns they create. The video explains how sand can collapse when holes are dug too deeply, and it also shows how large holes can become serious hidden hazards for beach visitors as well as ocean rescue staff driving along the shoreline in vehicles or on ATVs.

Exposure to the Sun

Time in the sun should come with awareness of the risks created by extended sun exposure. Applying sunscreen correctly and often to exposed skin helps protect against sunburn and sun damage. Put sunscreen on again after leaving the water, and choose a water-resistant broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. During the strongest sunlight, from 10AM-3PM, spend time in the shade when possible. Clothing can also reduce sun exposure; sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, long sleeves, and pants can help decrease the chance of a serious sunburn.

Rip Currents

Rip currents are narrow flows of water moving away from shore, and they can rapidly carry even capable swimmers out toward the ocean. Because these currents move beneath the surface, it is important to recognize their warning signs and stay away from the water where they appear.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), signs that may point to rip currents include:

• Water that appears choppy, turbulent, or moving in a channel.
• Clear changes in the color of the water.
• Foam, seaweed, or debris forming lines and steadily drifting seaward.
• A gap or interruption in the pattern of incoming waves.

For current details on rip currents, high and low tide, and surf height, review the National Weather Service Surf Zone Forecasts. Use the forecast for the Outer Banks region.

Public beach flags also communicate rip current conditions: green means low hazard with calm conditions, yellow means medium hazard with moderate surf, and red means high hazard with rough water where rip currents are indicated. When you get to the beach, check lifeguard stations for flags and read the posted sign keys.

If you notice rip current warning signs or see moderate or high hazard flags, do not enter the water and let others know they should stay out as well. If a rip current catches you, remain calm so you can save energy and think clearly. Avoid trying to overpower the current. Swim in a direction parallel to the shoreline, then head back toward land once you are free of the current.

Beach Warning Flags

Many beach access locations post flags that identify current water conditions. Watch for these flags when arriving at the beach.

Lifeguarded Beaches

The Outer Banks welcomes several million guests annually, and many visitors spend time along the beaches and in the water. Travelers who want to swim near lifeguard stations can consult the available chart for lifeguarded beach locations.

Jellyfish

The best way to avoid jellyfish and Portuguese man o’ war stings is to pay attention to your surroundings at the beach. If a sting happens, treat it promptly.

Jellyfish have transparent, jellylike bodies and tentacles below them that contain stinging structures, and they move underwater. The Portuguese man o’ war floats on the water’s surface with a colorful air-filled bladder, while its tentacles trail beneath it. If you see either one, stay calm, leave the water, and warn people nearby.

Both can inject venom through a sting, and they may still sting after death, so do not touch any that have washed ashore. Common symptoms include red welts, blisters, pain, tingling, and itching. To address a sting:

• Use gloves or another covering on your hands before removing tentacles.
• Clean the affected area using vinegar or rubbing alcohol.
• Do not rinse with water, since that may cause additional venom release.
• Reach out to a lifeguard or doctor for additional care if needed.

Sharks

Most shark encounters involving people happen because of mistaken identity. People swimming, surfing, or splashing in the water may create visual cues that confuse a shark and cause it to mistake them for prey. Most attacks take place in near-shore waters, between sandbars, or close to steep drop-offs where sharks feed.

Chances of encountering a shark in North Carolina waters are very low. To help reduce risk even further, follow these tips from the North Carolina Aquarium:

• Stay out of the water near piers, because baitfish gather there, sharks feed on them, and sharks are more likely to be present if they approach the shore.
• Keep away from water where sport or commercial fishermen are active, particularly when baitfish or feeding behavior is visible. Diving seabirds can signal this type of activity.
• Remain with other people. Sharks are more likely to attack a solitary individual.
• Avoid water during dusk, darkness, or twilight hours, when sharks are especially active and hold a sensory advantage.
• Do not wear shiny jewelry in the water, because reflected light can look like fish scales.
• Avoid brightly colored contrasting clothing in the water. Sharks see contrast particularly well.
• Limit excessive splashing to reduce your risk.
• Be careful when swimming between sandbars or near steep drop-offs, which are areas sharks often frequent.
• Do not go into the water while bleeding. A shark's sense of smell is acute.

Severe Weather/Hurricanes

Pay close attention to weather watches or warnings from the National Weather Service or local authorities, and carefully follow evacuation notices or other safety instructions from public safety officials. If thunderstorms or lightning are possible, quickly seek shelter inside a large enclosed building or, when that is not available, inside an enclosed metal vehicle. The National Weather Service recommends waiting 30 minutes until after the last thunder crack before returning to the beach. Tropical storm forecast updates are available from the National Hurricane Center.

These beach safety tips are also available in a downloadable guide.

FAQ

Love the Beach, Respect the Ocean

Where can I find beach condition reports for ocean beaches in Dare County?

Visit LovetheBeachRespectTheOcean.com for daily beach condition reports.

You can also text OBXBEACHCONDITIONS to 77295 to register for these daily Dare County beach condition reports.

Go to Weather.gov/beach/mhx and select the nearest umbrella to see a condition report for your location.

When you reach the beach each day, check in with a lifeguard.

What should I do if I’m caught in a rip current?

The key point to remember is that rip currents carry you outward, not downward.

• Keep calm.
• Shout and wave to get help.
• Float and conserve energy.
• Swim parallel to the shore, rather than trying to swim against the current.

Why is it dangerous to dig and leave holes in the sand?

Sand can collapse in holes that are only a few feet deep. Do not dig a hole deeper than it is wide. Children and adults should avoid digging holes that rise higher than their knees when they stand inside them.

Sea turtle laying and hatching season runs from May through September. Holes left in the sand can block female sea turtles that come ashore at night to nest, and they can also obstruct hatchlings making their way to the ocean about 60 days later.

If you create a hole, fill it back in before leaving the beach.

How can I be a safer swimmer in the ocean?

Bring a buddy and take a floatation device that can help you stay afloat if you become tired or are pulled into a rip current.

Do not swim at dawn, dusk, or after dark.

If conditions suggest a storm is moving in, or if you hear thunder, leave the beach immediately and find safe shelter.

Most importantly, the safest option is to swim near a lifeguard.

How can I avoid rip current problems?

Make sure you know how to swim in surf, and never swim alone, even if you are experienced. The ocean is different from a pool or lake.

• Swim near a lifeguard.
• Watch for posted signs and warning flags, which may show that hazards are higher than normal.
• Before getting in the water, speak with lifeguards and follow their directions.
• On beaches without lifeguards, do not go into the water unless you are using a personal flotation device or are connected to a float such as a surfboard or bodyboard. Never swim alone.
• Use caution.

How can I assist someone who is caught in a rip current?

Notify the lifeguard. If there is no lifeguard nearby, call 911.

Call out to the person and tell them to swim parallel to the shoreline until they move out of the current.

If you can, throw the person something that floats, such as a boogie board or pool float.

Keep in mind that many people trying to rescue others have drowned. Do not become a victim while attempting to help someone else.

Call for help.

Why is a moderate rip current risk posted when the ocean looks calm?

Long period swells can sometimes create very little visible wave activity, leaving the ocean surface only slightly disturbed, while still sending more wave energy than usual into the surf zone. That can raise the rip current risk.

Check posted signs and warning flags, since they may identify higher-than-normal hazards even when conditions do not look dangerous.

How do I keep my dog safe at the beach?

Salt water is not safe for dogs to drink, but many dogs will try to drink from the ocean. Bring plenty of fresh water and a bowl so your dog has another water source.

Sand can become hot enough to burn a dog’s paws, even on days when you might not expect it.

Use your own bare feet to test the sand and decide whether your dog needs paw protection.

People are not the only ones who can get sunburned. Bring an umbrella or tent large enough for both you and your dog.

Running in sand takes effort, so your dog may not be able to play fetch as long as at the dog park.

After playtime, rinse salt and sand out of your dog’s coat.

What are the symptoms of heat stroke?

On the hottest beach days, overheating can happen easily. Take care of yourself and your family, and watch for signs of heat stroke, which can include:

• Headache
• Dizziness, disorientation, agitation, or confusion
• Sluggishness or fatigue
• Seizure
• Hot, dry skin that is flushed but not sweaty
• A high body temperature
• Loss of consciousness
• Rapid heartbeat
• Hallucinations

How can heat stroke be prevented?

Stay hydrated. Drink more water than usual, and do not wait until you feel thirsty.

People at high risk for heat-related illness, including young children, the elderly, and people with chronic medical conditions, should remain in an air-conditioned environment on days when the temperature exceeds 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

When exercising or playing in hot weather, pace yourself and take shade breaks.

Protect your skin with reef-safe sunscreen, and reapply it every two hours.

Wear a wide-brimmed hat for coverage. Choose lightweight and light-colored clothing.

Give pets plenty of water in shaded places.

Register for beach condition alerts through OBXAlerts.com, including extreme heat alerts and safety tips.

Do not leave children or pets in parked.