Overview | Flag Definitions | Flag Chart
Overview
For decades, lifeguard agencies in the U.S. and around the world have employed flags to notify swimmers of conditions, to warn of hazards, to identify safer areas for swimming, and to notify beach users about regulated areas. To help ensure global consistency, in 2004 the International Life Saving Federation developed international guidelines for warning flags.
These guidelines have been adopted, in part, by the International Standards Organization and are endorsed by the United States Lifesaving Association. By consistently following these warning flag guidelines, lifeguard agencies can help ensure a universal understanding of their meaning and thus improve their effectiveness.
These flags are only approved for use on beaches where lifeguards trained to USLA standards are on duty. Flags are not an acceptable substitute for properly trained and equipped rescuers, but rather a tool for their use.
To be fully effective, the use of warning flags to notify the public of current hazard levels should be consistent, based on objective, measurable criteria that can be logged and tracked, and then changed as conditions change. They should be accompanied by good public education efforts to explain the meaning of the flags flown.
Ocean conditions vary throughout the U.S. Conditions that may be considered relatively mild in some places may be seen as a significant safety threat in others. Therefore, in each area where warning flags are employed, the USLA recommends that specific local criteria be developed and that the public be clearly notified of those criteria.
Some or all of the flags listed may be employed. This is a local decision. However, the USLA strongly discourages use of flags that conflict with the meaning of those listed. Where warning flags are flown, the public should be notified of their meaning via signs placed at multiple, conveniently located places.
In some areas of the U.S. green flags are flown to indicate calm or mild conditions. The International Life Saving Federation (ILS) considered this carefully and decided not to adopt the green flag. The primary reason is the fact that there is always a potential hazard present and the view that it is best to notify people when conditions are unusually challenging, rather than suggesting that they are ever completely safe.
Flag Definitions
The following are specific definitions for each of the flags. Please refer to the accompanying graphic.
- Yellow – Medium hazard. Moderate surf and/or currents are present. Weak swimmers are discouraged from entering the water. For others, enhanced care and caution should be exercised.
- Red – High hazard. Rough conditions such as strong surf and/or currents are present. All swimmers are discouraged from entering the water. Those entering the water should take great care.
- Double red – Water is closed to public use.
- Purple – Marine pests, such as jellyfish, stingrays, or other marine life which can cause minor injuries are present in the water. This flag is not intended to indicate the presence of sharks.
- Red/yellow (halved red over yellow) – The area is protected by lifeguards. These flags may be used in pairs spaced apart to indicate a designated area or zone along a beach or waterfront that is most closely supervised or patrolled by qualified lifeguards, and where swimming and/or body surfing is permitted. These flags may be used singly to indicate that swimming is permitted in front of the area where the flag is flown and that the area is under the supervision of a qualified lifeguard.
- Black/White (quartered) – These flags may be used in pairs spaced apart to indicate a designated area or zone along a beach or waterfront that is used by those with surfboards and other non-powered watercraft.
- Yellow flag with central black ball – Surfboards and other non-powered watercraft are prohibited.
- Orange windsock – This cone shaped device is used to indicate the direction of offshore winds and to show that it is unsafe for inflatable objects to be used in the water.
- Red/White (quartered) – Emergency evacuation. Swimmers should leave the water because of an emergency. Emergencies may include, but are not limited to, dangerous marine creatures are present, such as a shark, the water is contaminated, or lifeguards need to perform a search of the water area, for example search for a lost child. (The double red flag may alternatively be appropriate.)
Flag Chart
|
| Beach Safety Flag |
Color |
Meaning |
Pantone (PMS) |
Shape |
 |
Yellow |
Medium hazard |
PMS – 124 |
Rectangle |
 |
Red |
High hazard |
PMS – 186
|
Rectangle
|
 |
Red over Red
|
Water closed to
public use
|
PMS – 186
|
Rectangles
|
 |
Purple |
Marine pests present
|
PMS – 266
|
Rectangle
|
 |
Red over
Yellow
|
Recommended
swimming area with
lifeguard supervision
|
PMS – 186
PMS – 124
|
Rectangle with equal,
parallel halves.
|
 |
Black and
White
(Quartered)
|
Watercraft area
|
PMS – 6
(black)
|
Rectangular flag with four
equal rectangular quarters.
Black upper left and lower
right. White upper right and
lower left.
|
 |
Yellow flag
with Black
|
Watercraft use
prohibited (e.g. no
surfboards)
|
PMS – 124
(yellow)
PMS – 6
(black) |
Rectangular yellow flag with
central black ball shape,
500mm diameter. |
 |
Orange
windsock
|
Offshore winds
present, inflatables
should not be used
|
PMS – 166
|
Cone shape 500mm at the
hoist-tapering to 300mm x
1500mm long
|
 |
Red and
White
(Quartered)
|
Emergency
Evacuation
|
PMS – 186
(Red)
|
Rectangular flag with four
equal rectangular quarters.
Red upper left and lower
right. White upper right and
lower left.
|
The full international flag standard from the International Life Saving Federation can be found
here.
