- April 28, 2024
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The Volusia County Beach Patrol will change its name to the Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue, just in time for the holiday.
BY TIM FENNELL | CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Red is the new white
One of the Volusia County Beach Patrol's busiest holidays, Fourth of July weekend, is nearly here, and to mark the occasion, the patrol will have a whole new look — and a new name to match.
Lifeguards will no longer be seen in the traditional white shirt and blue shorts this weekend; their colors have changed to the more common lifeguard shades of red and yellow. Beach Safety Services officers will continue wearing the blue and white but, to better differentiate lifeguards from law enforcement, wave workers will change it up.
In addition to the fashion change, the group's name has also been revamped to the Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue. Each beach district in Volusia County also has new red Jeep Wranglers and white Ford F-150s.
Get out to the beach early enough this weekend and you may catch lifeguards not only flashing their new duds but also training for their next trial, the Lifeguard Regional Competition, July 18 and 19, in Pompano Beach, as well as the county's Lifeguard Interzone Competition, July 26. In last competition, Jacksonville's Battle for the Beach, in May, local lifeguards won first place, for the third straight year.
Explosive crowds
From the volume of beach traffic experienced during Memorial Day weekend, Beach Safety Ocean Rescue workers are expecting similar or greater number of cars on the beach July 4. For Ormond Beachers, that means arriving early to guarantee space near your favorite beach approach.
Officers and parking attendants will be on hand to direct the traffic, which also could mean long lines. especially near the city's most popular approaches, on Granada Boulevard and Cardinal Boulevard. Heading to the less-populated approaches, instead, is advised, by Ocean Rescue Director Mark Swanson, as is swimming near a lifeguard tower, to ensure safety.
