When will lifeguards be on Myrtle Beach area beaches? Where they’ll be for spring break

Emalyn Muzzy
·2 min read

A sure sign that beach season is upon us is when lifeguards take their posts.

Beaches in North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach have begun putting up their lifeguard stands, beach umbrella boxes and beach chairs.

Lifeguards stationed in Myrtle Beach are expected to begin March 24, although it could be later depending on weather, said Weslyn Lack-Chickering, the Lack’s Beach Service general manager. The company provides the lifeguard services for the city.

There will be a smaller number of lifeguards in the beginning, but the number will increase as the season continues.

But Lack’s also provides other services, including beach chair and umbrella rentals. Because of that, it can be confusing to tell who is who.

Last year, for the first time, lifeguards wore color-coordinated uniforms that set them apart from attendants that are responsible for handling rental sales.

The small but significant change in both Myrtle Beach and Horry County that was required after agreements were reworked with lifeguard providers.

Lacks Beach Service lifeguards wear gold shirts that say “lifeguard” while their beach attendants will wear lime green shirts. Lifeguards will sit mostly in the lifeguard box and the attendants will sit behind the umbrella line.

The changes came after a record-breaking wrongful death lawsuit in which a jury handed down a nearly $21 million verdict in 2022 against Lack’s. The suit stemmed from the 2018 drowning of a man on vacation with his family in Myrtle Beach.

Both Lack’s and John’s Beach Services have deals with the city through September 2024.

Here’s when lifeguards are expected to be on the beaches:

Myrtle Beach

Lack’s lifeguards are on duty from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from March through October, and John’s lifeguards are on duty from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from mid-April to late September, according to the companies’ websites.

North Myrtle Beach

In North Myrtle Beach, lifeguards start on April 3, said Beach Patrol Manager Monty Reed. There will be around five patrolling lifeguards and five guards in the stands. The number of lifeguards will increase around May 15, said city spokesperson Lauren Eckersley.

Surfside Beach

In Surfside Beach and the Garden City area, patrolling lifeguards should start around Easter weekend, March 29 through March 31, depending on weather, said Beach Services Ltd. owner Garrett Todd.

A full staff will be stationed by Memorial Day weekend.