The Beach Patrol Division’s staff is tasked with the responsibilities of victim rescue, emergency response, and ordinance enforcement on Manatee Public Beach, Cortez Beach, and Coquina Beach. Our emergency response capabilities, as well as our knowledge and proximity to the Manatee River, Intercoastal Waterway, Terra Ceia, Sarasota Bay, Tampa Bay, and Longboat Key, allow our personnel to respond to incidents not only on Anna Maria Island but also in the surrounding communities.
In conjunction with the duties listed above, Beach Patrol personnel also deal with a wide array of other situations along the 17-plus miles of coastline, such as:
- On-scene emergency medical care and transport to awaiting medic units
- Medical response to water and landborne emergencies outside of beach boundaries
- Lost person searches
- Stranded boater assistance
- Evacuations of island communities and other low-lying areas during times of emergency
- Dive Rescue
- Traffic control
Lifeguards are on duty 365 days a year from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Manatee County Beach Patrol has 11 lifeguard towers spanning three beaches on the gulf side of Anna Maria Island; Manatee Public Beach (tower #1), Cortez Beach (tower# 2, 3, 4) and Coquina Beach (tower # 5-11).
If you would like to have a member of Beach Patrol speak at your
school, civic group meeting, or agency, please call Beach Patrol at
941.749.3500.
We can tailor drowning prevention and water/beach safety-related presentations to fit your group.
If
you are a Fire, Police, or Emergency Medical Service department or an
educational institution, we offer training that may help your first
responders. Please call for details.