St. Simons Island beach to get more lifeguards

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) New safety measures are planned for the St. Simons Island beach.

The Florida Times-Union reports that the Glynn County commission has approved a plan to more than double the number of lifeguards and extend their coverage area.

The county plans to add nine new lifeguards to the eight it already has and will buy a personal watercraft, two ATVs and other equipment. The new safety measures will cost $116,000.

The additional lifeguards will allow the county to expand beach coverage to a stretch from the Fifth Street seawall to the southern end of East Beach.

The commission started looking into improving beach safety last summer after a 16-year-old drowned outside the area of beach that was guarded at the time.