Sunny skies and warm ocean temperatures are expected to attract huge crowds to the county’s 70-plus miles of beaches this weekend. San Diego lifeguards said more than a million people went to the beach last year over the July Fourth weekend — traditionally their busiest holiday.
Lifeguards made 423 water rescues during the Fourth of July weekend last year. Adding to the danger this year is high surf. The National Weather Service predicts waves of 4 to 6 feet on Sunday and Monday, with some sets reaching 7 feet.
Lifeguards warn the high surf will cause strong rip currents, especially along south-facing beaches. They offer these basic tips:
- Always swim near a lifeguard station. Statistics show the chance of drowning is five times higher on a beach not protected by lifeguards.
- Swim with a buddy, or at least have someone onshore watching out for you.
- Check with lifeguards about rip currents and dangerous surf conditions.
- Rip currents are rivers of water moving out to sea. They are especially prevalent along piers and jetties. If you get caught in a rip current, stay calm, swim parallel to shore until you feel the current ease, and then swim to shore.
- Alcohol is often a factor in water rescues. If you’ve been drinking, don’t go into the water.
Drinking is a serious problem on land as well.
“I cannot stress this enough: Don’t drink and drive this Fourth of July weekend,” Sheriff Bill Gore said. “By doing so, you put your life in danger, as well as those of other drivers on the road.”
San Diego County law enforcement agencies began a four-day countywide effort Thursday called "Operation Safeguard." It's aimed at preventing alcohol-related deaths and injuries and curbing underage drinking.
The operation will include sobriety checkpoints, roving DUI patrols and stepped-up enforcement of social-host laws, which hold homeowners accountable for underage drinking at house parties.
The Fourth of July holiday typically ushers in a spike in drunken driving and other alcohol-related problems, authorities said.
In the three days around and including Independence Day from 2008 to 2012, 54 alcohol-related deaths were reported in the San Diego area. Of those, 15 involved drunken driving and 21 were related to falls, alcohol poisoning or accidental overdoses of a mix of alcohol and drugs, officials said.
The Sheriff's Department cited several sober-rider options for the holiday, including AAA's Tipsy Tow, Be My Designated Driver and public transportation.
City News Service contributed to this report.
