North Myrtle Beach - Main St. South

In 2006, North Myrtle Beach City Council members voted to take complete control of beach safety, which had previously been ran by contracted independent service franchises. This step had never been taken before by a municipality in the Grand Strand area. Lifeguards are no longer "dual role" and do not rent beach chairs and umbrellas. The only function of lifeguards in North Myrtle Beach is beach safety.

Lifeguards are now trained above and beyond minimum guidelines of the United States Lifesaving Association. The City of North Myrtle Beach Ocean Rescue Division has the proud distinction to be the only USLA Certified Agency on the Grand Strand. The ocean rescue operation is overseen by the Public Safety Department and managed by Lifeguard Coordinators. All Coordinators are state certified law enforcement officers and also certified Lifeguard Instructors. Each year the City hires approximately 100 lifeguards to cover 50 Lifeguard Towers and 9 miles of beachfront.