Dual Language Beach Safety Signs Improve Communication at the Oceanfront

As residents and visitors begin to arrive to our coastal city to enjoy the beaches, it’s important to ensure they’re well-informed about how to stay safe while soaking up the season’s best moments. Beach safety signs in two languages are here to help.

These signs, written in English and Spanish, provide key information to help keep beachgoers safe. Virginia Beach Emergency Medical Services (VBEMS) partnered with Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service (VBLS) and the U.S. Coast Guard to highlight the importance of the information and expand access to safety information.

Beach Safety Education 

The goal is to increase awareness of beach safety and reach more visitors and residents through improved language access at the Oceanfront. This is especially important during a season known for high waves, strong rip currents and occasionally dangerous water conditions.  

Each sign includes a QR code linking to the City’s Beach Rules and Safety webpage, which includes the Oceanfront safety map highlighting real-time water hazards and advisories. 

More than 60 signs were installed last year on lifeguard stands across the Oceanfront, Croatan Beach and Sandbridge. Additionally, there are 40 signs posted throughout the patrol areas in Virginia Beach with the same information at beach access points.  

Safety Guidelines and Surfing Regulations  

Safety guidelines and surfing regulations help ensure that beachgoers stay aware of their surroundings and follow the rules while enjoying everything Virginia Beach beaches have to offer. 

Each dual‑language sign includes reminders that support safe swimming practices: 

• Swim near a lifeguard 
• Sandbars shift daily; do not dive 
• Never leave children unsupervised 
• Never swim alone 
• If in doubt, don’t go out 
• Swim sober 
• Avoid the water from dusk to dawn 
• Stay within 50 yards of the shore when swimming  

Surfing is allowed in designated areas and times from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend. Swimmers are not allowed in the surfing zones during designated surfing times. The complete list of surfing regulations according to City Code is available online. These guidelines help keep both surfers and swimmers safe, especially during busy summer months when beach activity increases. 

What to Look for to Stay Safe

When water conditions are dangerous, red flags will be posted in specific areas.

When these flags are flying, beachgoers should be aware of:

• Strong currents
• High surf
• Dangerous shorebreak

For safety, it’s recommended to stay out of the water during these conditions.

In addition to red flags, residents and visitors can keep track of dangerous conditions on the Oceanfront safety map. Areas with dangerous conditions will include a red line next to the lifeguard stand on the website. Selecting a specific stand provides guidance on how to respond and what to avoid to stay safe.

The Dangers of Rip Currents and How to Respond  

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), rip currents are strong, narrow channels of water moving away from the shore. These usually spread from the shoreline, through the surf zone and beyond the line of breaking waves. Rip currents usually form at low spots, breaks in sandbars or near structures, and can extend hundreds of yards offshore. 

Rip currents develop when strong, incoming waves push large amounts of water toward the shoreline. Over time, this creates an imbalance of water in the surf zone. To correct that imbalance, the rip current finds the path of least resistance as it moves seaward again.  

How to respond if you are caught in a rip current:  

• Don’t fight the current 
• Swim out of the current, then to the shore 
• If you can’t escape, float or tread water 
• If you need help, call or wave for assistance 

Lifeguards are on duty from 9:30 a.m. to at least 6 p.m. from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend. For the North End, beaches will be patrolled from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

Staying Safe All Season Long 

As the summer season begins, staying informed is one of the best ways to enjoy the beach safely. From understanding flag colors to recognizing rip currents, every piece of information helps create a safer shoreline for everyone.

The dual‑language signs, paired with real‑time digital tools and lifeguard guidance, ensure that residents and visitors have the resources they need to make confident decisions while enjoying the water. For more information, visit VirginiaBeach.gov/BeachRules.  

You can also sign up for the Beach Report, a text alert service that will help you plan your next beach day. Receive real-time beach status updates straight to your phone. Register online at VirginiaBeach.gov/BeachReport or simply text BEACH to 67283 to enroll. Beach Report messages will only be sent to notify users of a change in normal status.

You may also call 3-1-1 in Virginia Beach (or 757-385-3111) to ask about beach conditions.

• Beach Report
• Oceanfront Safety Map