Grand Bend Beach Safety

Grand Bend Beach Patrol

All Grand Bend Beach Lifeguards are certified through the Lifesaving Society and tested annually on waterfront rescues. Beach Patrol provides public education, patrols the beach by foot and in towers, inspects the beach for hazards, administers first aid, searches for missing people and performs water rescues.

The Beach Patrol season runs from Mid-June to Labour Day Weekend.

Lifejacket Lending Program

Lambton Shores offers a free lifejacket lending program at Grand Bend Beach. If you would like to borrow a lifejacket during your beach day, please visit the Information Booth at the main beach.

Jumping and Diving From the Pier

This is a dangerous activity and is prohibited. The Pier has the potential to create structural currents. Do not put yourself, or first responders at risk.

Image retrieved from: https://glsrp.org/dangerous-currents/

Rip Currents

Rips are strong currents that often start near the shore and push out, quickly taking swimmers from shallow water to deeper water.

Spot a rip by looking for:

A place where waves are not breaking regularly (due to current)
A channel of darker, choppy water
Foam, seaweed, sand suspended in the water column

Escaping from a Rip Current:

Stay calm and do not panic
If you can stand, wade; do not swim
If you have a board or floatation device, do not let go
Never try to swim directly against the rip (i.e., do not try to swim directly back to the beach). Instead, swim parallel to the beach until you are out of the current, and then head back towards the beach

Diagram of rip current and where swimmers should escape

Coast Smart has great resources online to better understand Rip Currents and how to swim safe.

Lake Huron Coastal Centre also has great resources, including the image below that illustrates what a Rip Current can look like:

Image of a rip current

Umbrellas and Tents

Umbrellas that are 2.4m (8 feet) in diameter are permitted. They must:

a)    Be erected vertically (not laying in the sand)
b)    Be at least 3m (10 feet) apart from another umbrella
c)    Not block the view of lifeguards

Tents are not allowed.

Postings and closures

Beach warning flags

The Grand Bend Beach uses warning flags along the shoreline. Beach Patrol is on duty if a flag is being used. Different coloured flags communicate current swimming conditions.

Flag Image	Flag Colour	Swim Conditions
	Green Flag	Good conditions, no unusual hazards.
	Yellow Flag	Moderate conditions, swim with caution.
	Red Flag	Danger! Swimming not advised.
	No Flag	No Beach Patrol Officer on duty.