New effort aimed at beach safety launched in advance of 4th of July holiday
Moved by the recent drownings of children and their families off the San Mateo County coast, officials launched a public safety campaign reminding visitors to “Be Smart. Play Safe. Stay Aware.”
The launch, announced earlier this week at Surfer’s Beach in Half Moon Bay, is timed to the busy Fourth of July holiday, which typically attracts thousands of visitors to the county’s 54 miles of coastline.
“We’re excited to have a lot of visitors to the San Mateo County coast this July Fourth holiday, but it’s incumbent on us to share that while the ocean may be beautiful and wonderful to cool off in, there are sneaker waves that can take a person out into the water very quickly and without warning,” said Supervisor Ray Mueller whose District Three includes the coast as well as Atherton, Menlo Park, Portola Valley and Woodside.
“Unfortunately, we’ve lost lives in this water so if you come to the coast, please keep your children within a short distance of you, remember that the water is very cold and without a wetsuit depletes your energy quickly, don’t turn your back to the ocean, and if you’re caught in a sneaker wave, swim parallel to shore.”
Visitors will see flashing roadside signs along the major coast arteries of Highway 1, which stretches from Pacifica to past Pescadero, and Highway 92, the main coastal access route for visitors from the mid-Peninsula, East Bay, South Bay and beyond.
Signs will flash with the messages, “Be Smart. Play Safe. Stay Aware.” And then “Don’t turn back on the ocean.”
“By prioritizing public safety through awareness and education we can work together to prevent these tragedies. Together alongside Supervisor Mueller, the City of Half Moon Bay, CAL FIRE and other partners, we are taking a stand to proactively inform visitors and residents to exercise caution along our beaches ahead of the Fourth of July holiday and summer months,” said Sheriff Christina Corpus.
Pictured from left to right San Mateo County District 3 Supervisor, Ray Mueller, Half Moon Bay Mayor Joaquin Jimenez, Sheriff Christina Corpus and CALFIRE Deputy Chief Jonathan Cox at Surfers Beach.
