Kill Devil Hills Ocean Rescue

07/16/2026

Wow, it feels like the outside ran out of air today. ( ) 🥵

While the OBX continues preheating to 400 degrees over the next few days, here are a few tips to help you beat the heat:

☀️ Drink water like you just walked from your house to the beach carrying allllll the gear, with a kid at your side asking "here?" every 4 seconds. Add some electrolytes too, because: OBX humidity.

☀️ Take breaks in the shade or A/C. Your beach umbrella is great for shade, but it’s not an air conditioner. Take breaks to truly cool down before you start to turn the color of a steamed crab. (Don't forget to reapply the sunscreen!)

☀️ Do the hard outdoor work early in the morning or later in the evening.
Noon is for sitting somewhere with the A/C blasting, not pressure washing the deck, mowing the yard, or trying to win a battle with the weeds. (If you are working, be sure to take frequent breaks.)

☀️ Wear deodorant. Please.
We’re all hot. We’re all sweaty. No need to add another challenge for the people standing nearby. 😂

☀️ Know the signs of heat illness: dizziness, confusion, nausea, weakness, heavy sweating, or feeling faint. If that happens, get out of the heat, cool down, and get help if symptoms are severe.

The heat’s got us running low on jokes and sanity. Now we need your best one:
“It’s hotter than ______ outside.”
Drop it in the comments. (Reminder: Your grandma or boss may read these – keep it clean.)

07/09/2026

🚩 Thursday, July 9 🚩
Based on ocean rescue agency reports of multiple rescues, NWS has raised the rip current risk to HIGH, making it a RED FLAG DAY in Kill Devil Hills. Red flags mean no swimming is advised! Stay safe, stay out of the ocean.

Q: What is a rip current? 🌊
A: Rip currents are powerful, channeled currents of water flowing away from shore. They typically extend from the shoreline, through the surf zone, and past the line of breaking waves. Certain wave, tide, and beach shape conditions can increase rip currents to dangerous speeds. People get in trouble when they are moved so far offshore that they are unable to get back to the beach because of fear, panic, exhaustion or inefficient swimming skills. (Rip currents pull you out, not under.)

🚩 If you're caught in a rip current:
✔️ Remain calm.
✔️ Yell and wave for help.
✔️ Stay afloat.
✔️ Swim parallel to the shore. Don’t try to swim against the current.
✔️ Once you no longer feel the pull of the current, then you can begin swimming to shore.

⚠️ How to help someone else caught in a rip current:
Many people have died trying to rescue rip current victims. Here are the best ways to help:
🛟 Alert the lifeguard. If no lifeguard is available, call 911.
🛟 Yell to the victim to swim parallel to the shoreline until they escape the pull.
🛟 If possible, throw the rip current victim something that floats: a boogie board, pool float, etc.
🛟 Do not enter the water and do not lose sight of the victim.

Remember, many would-be rescuers have drowned trying to help others. Don't become a victim while trying to help someone else. Know your location and call for help.

For more beach safety tips, head to LoveTheBeachRespectTheOcean.com. Text OBXBeachConditions to 77295 to receive a daily beach conditions forecast.

07/05/2026

By taking a few precautions, you can protect yourself and your family from heat exhaustion and heat stroke when the temperatures creep up.

💧 Stay hydrated! Drink more water than usual and don’t wait until you’re thirsty.

🥵 Those at high risk for heat-related illness (young children, elderly and people with chronic medical conditions) should stay in an air-conditioned environment on days when the temperature exceeds 95 degrees.

⛱ Pace yourself while exercising or playing in hot weather. Be sure to take breaks in the shade.

☀️ Protect your skin using reef-safe sunscreen and reapplying every two hours.

👒 Cover up with a wide-brimmed hat. Wear lightweight and light-colored clothing.

📱 Sign up for beach condition alerts on OBXAlerts.com, which include extreme heat alerts and beach safety tips.

🚫 Do not leave children or pets in parked cars, even if the windows are cracked open.

For more beach safety tips, please visit LoveTheBeachRespectTheOcean.com.

07/05/2026

We have the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful and clean beach. Please remove all trash and personal items from the beach each day. In Kill Devil Hills, leaving items on the beach overnight is prohibited.

Trash and other items left on the beach can be harmful to people, including emergency responders, and wildlife, like hatchling sea turtles that must make their way to the water to survive. And, don’t forget to fill in all sand holes, which also create extreme hazards for others when left unattended.

We want all people and wildlife to be able to continue enjoying a safe and litter-free beach.

Leave nothing but footprints. . .👣

07/04/2026

The quickest and most efficient way to get help when you need it is to know your exact location.

🛟 Take note of the street address of your accommodations—not the house name.
🛟 Pay attention to the street you access the beach from, the beach access name or what milepost you are closest to. Every second counts in an emergency!
🛟 If available, send someone to meet the first responders at the nearest access point to help emergency responders locate you quickly.

For more beach safety tips, visit LoveTheBeachRespectTheOcean.com.

Text OBXBeachConditions to 77295 to receive a daily beach conditions forecast.

07/04/2026

07/03/2026

Temperatures are reaching record numbers on the Outer Banks!

☀️ Check the day's beach forecast at LoveTheBeachRespectTheOcean.com.
☀️ Hydrate, drinking more water than usual.
☀️ Take frequent breaks in the shade or A/C.
☀️ Check the notices posted on lifeguard stands.
☀️ Reapply reef-safe sunscreen every two hours.

For more beach safety tips, head to LoveTheBeachRespectTheOcean.com.

06/21/2026

Q: How can I be a safer swimmer in the ocean?
A: First, be sure that you know how to swim well before you enter the ocean. The ocean just isn’t the same as swimming in a pool.

🌊 Swim near a lifeguard.
🌊 Have a buddy with you and take a floatation device that will help you if you become tired or get caught in a rip current.
🌊 Avoid swimming at dawn or dusk.
🌊 If the weather conditions show that a storm is approaching or you hear thunder, immediately move off the beach and seek safe shelter to avoid lightning strikes.

For more beach safety tips, head to LoveTheBeachRespectTheOcean.com.

Text OBXBeachConditions to 77295 to receive a daily beach conditions forecast.

06/11/2026

Today's forecast: Hot. Tomorrow's forecast: Also hot.

The heat is no joke, so here are a few tips to stay safe:

💧 Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water! Don’t wait until you’re thirsty. (Spoiler alert: we're told energy drinks don't count towards hydration.)

🌳 Take breaks in the shade or air conditioning when possible.

👕 Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Our Auxiliary has the perfect t-shirts for sale!

🚗 Never leave children, seniors, or pets in a parked vehicle, not even “just for a minute.”

🐕 If the pavement is too hot for your bare feet, it's too hot for your pet's paws.

🔥 Be careful with outdoor grilling and equipment. A dry environment plus heat plus sparks equals a bad time.

☀️ Sign up for beach condition alerts on OBXAlerts.com, which include extreme heat alerts

We fight fires. We do not fight the sun. Help us out by staying cool, staying hydrated, and checking on neighbors who may need assistance. Please take care of yourselves and each other. We're here if you need us. 😎

06/08/2026

🚩 Monday, June 8 🚩
Red flags are flying in KDH today due to powerful rip currents. Red flags mean no swimming is advised! Stay safe, stay out of the ocean.

Q: What is a rip current? 🌊
A: Rip currents are powerful, channeled currents of water flowing away from shore. They typically extend from the shoreline, through the surf zone, and past the line of breaking waves.

Certain wave, tide and beach shape conditions can increase rip currents to dangerous speeds. People get in trouble when they are moved so far offshore that they are unable to get back to the beach because of fear, panic, exhaustion or inefficient swimming skills. (Rip currents pull you out, not under.)

🚩 If you're caught in a rip current:
✔️ Remain calm.
✔️ Yell and wave for help.
✔️ Stay afloat.
✔️ Swim parallel to the shore. Don’t try to swim against the current.
✔️ Once you no longer feel the pull of the current, then you can begin swimming to shore.

🌊 Stay near a lifeguard and check in with them when you arrive at the beach for the day. For more beach safety tips, head to LoveTheBeachRespectTheOcean.com. Text OBXBeachConditions to 77295 to receive a daily beach conditions forecast.