If you are visiting Panama City Beach you will most likely see the Beach Patrol several times throughout the day.
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office Beach Patrol, along with Bay Medical Center’s Surf Rescue Team and officers from the Panama City Beach Police Department, are Bay County’s de facto lifeguards. None of the condos that line Front Beach Road and Thomas Drive provides lifeguard services. The beach service managers at the condos also keep an eye out for trouble.
The Beach Patrol monitors 13 miles of gulf and sand for trouble. They have several trucks, surfboards, fins and use of the department’s helicopter. They wear green shorts and polo shirts. Ask the patrol and they are likely to tell you that they have the best job in the world except on days when the seas are angry and someone is pulled too far from the shore by a riptide.
The Beach Patrol also uses a helicopter to watch the beach and the gulf. The pilot keeps the helicopter at about 10 stories high. Riptides can be spotted easily from the air. And by knowing where they are, deputies can keep swimmers away from the danger area.
If they spot a strong current, the Patrol will ask swimmers to move away. When the swimmers won’t go, deputies often ask them for contact information for their next of kin to let the swimmers know that there is real danger. One idea the Beach Patrol officers have suggested is for all the condos to have large signs on the beach side of their property identifying themselves. That way, when someone is in trouble, they would know instantly where they are on the beach.
In addition keep your dogs off of the beach or you will get to have a chat with the Beach Patrol.
Watch the warning flags for water conditions and be safe.
Jerry
Panama City Beach Condos for Rent
Sunday, March 30, 2008
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