Revised beach safety guide

LIHU‘E — The newly updated Official Kaua‘i Beach Guide is being distributed island-wide at no cost to the public, states a county press release.

The beach safety guide — in its 5th edition — contains information on lifeguarded beaches, rip currents, safety tips and more.

“The beach safety guide is part of a larger effort to continue to educate our visitors on how to stay safe while visiting our beautiful beaches,” said Kalani Vierra, head of the Ocean Safety Bureau. “We urge any individual or organization that deals with visitors regularly to have these ocean safety brochures on-hand.”

The brochures are available for pick-up at the Kaua‘i Fire Department, the Office of Economic Development and the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau. They are also on stands at Lihu‘e Airport and several hotels and resorts islandwide.

Distributors are also offering to deliver the brochures to any business unable to pick them up at one of the aforementioned locations.

The project is a collaborative effort between the bureau, OED, KVB, Kaua‘i Explorer, the Kaua‘i Ocean Recreation Council, the Kaua‘i Water Safety Task Force, and the W.A.V.E program.

Design and content was developed through funds raised at last year’s Kaua‘i Visitor Charity Walk, OED, Wilcox Hospital, and individual advocates of ocean safety.

“Our goal is to keep beachgoers safe, and educational campaigns play a critical role in that, especially for visitors that don’t understand the power of the ocean” Vierra said. “This is why we are so grateful for the many individuals and organizations that have stepped up to help us send this message.”

Organizers estimate that well over a million copies of the brochure have been printed since its original version in 1999.

Call the bureau at 241-4984 or 241-4980, OED at 241-4946, or visit www.kauaiexplorer.com for more information.