VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — This Memorial Day weekend coincides with National Beach Safety Week, which runs through Monday.

It’s a good reminder to always be safe and mindful of beach conditions while you’re out enjoying those natural resources we all know and love in Florida.

Red flags continue to fly along Volusia Beach, which indicates some rough conditions. 

Jordan Cruz and his family were among the first visitors to Daytona Beach on Sunday morning, taking the opportunity to enjoy the Memorial Day weekend. They traveled from Orlando for a spontaneous beach getaway. "We decided to do it just two days ago," laughed Jordan Cruz, who lives in Orlando.

Having lived in Orlando for four years, Cruz expressed his joy at being able to easily visit the beach.

"A lot of people can’t afford to go out to the parks. So you can come out to the beach, spend $20-30 on gas and just bring the food over,” he said.

While the beach is enjoyable for all, Cruz emphasized the importance of keeping children safe, “Me personally, I don’t let my kids come in here by themselves. Anything can happen.”

Jordan Cruz and his children play along the shore of Daytona Beach. (Spectrum News/Molly Duerig)

After rough waves led to the closure of Volusia County beaches on Saturday, beach driving reopened on Sunday morning. However, Captain AJ Miller of Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue cautioned that the situation could change quickly as high tide approached and covered parts of the beach.

“We close when the tide starts encroaching on the traffic lanes, to protect the people that are out here on the beach,” Miller said.

Across the country, lifeguards rescue tens of thousands of people from rip currents each year, according to the National Ocean Service.

Rip currents are narrow, powerful channels of water that move quickly.

Volusia Beach Safety Ocean Rescue Deputy Chief Tammy Malphurs said there are some key things to remember if you encounter a rip current. 

“If you find yourself caught in a rip current, do not panic,” Malphurs said. “The rip current will not pull you under water, it just pulls you into deeper water. Don’t panic, yell for help. And once again, if you’re in front of that staffed lifeguard tower, a lot of times, those lifeguards can see you caught in a rip current before you even realize it.”

Beach officials also said it is important to make sure you know where exactly the lifeguards are. if they can see you, they’ll be able to help.

The county also encourages people to download its free beach safety app to check current conditions.

The tide is still quite high in the area, with Daytona Beach Shores showing a tide of a little more than three feet high.

If you’re heading to the beach, you can use the beach safety app to check out current conditions.