Pensacola raises rip current awarness

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - Spring doesn't start until next week, but spring break vacations have started. And because of the weather, the surf is filled with rip currents, causing Pensacola Beach to already go into rescue mode.

As the first wave of spring breakers come in, so do the rescues. This week, two people were pulled from the gulf, and that's just the beginning.

"The guys were in trouble, they wouldn't have gotten out without our assistance." said senior lifeguard Andrew Edwards.

They're expecting more problems as the season goes on.

"March is horrible. Water is cold, which makes you get tired quicker, muscles tire quicker. We always have surf, and everyone is out of shape. March is the scariest month out here for me," said Edwards.

The hotels are packed mostly with students from Michigan, Nebraska and Ohio. Even though it's chilly, they have their bathing suits on and they're ready to jump in.

"They'll do anything to be in the water, because they haven't been in the water for a long time," he said.

Landry Gordon and Ryan Syring were some of the spring breakers in the water. Luckily, they knew when to get out.

"It was a little chilly. It was getting rough, we got out when it was a little too rough. We like the hot tub," said Gordon.

Lifeguards want beachgoers to know about the dangerous of the surf before they hit the beach, so they're handing out pamphlets that explain the conditions.

"A lot of people are not from here, especially spring breakers, and they don't understand the dangers red and yellow flags present," said Edwards

The next three weeks are set to be Pensacola's busiest time. They'll be bringing out extra lifeguards on the weekends.