Surf lifeguards worked 21,585 hours in New Zealand from Monday, January 5 to Sunday, January 11 as beaches filled up in hot, peak-summer conditions.

Across that week, lifeguards carried out 61 rescues, assisted 145 people, ran 17 searches, and completed 6,062 preventative actions.

Peak headcounts topped 76,000 people nationally, with Saturday and Sunday the busiest days.

Surf Life Saving says rescues and serious medical responses stayed steady across all regions.

It is urging beachgoers to keep safety front of mind before getting in the water.

Lifeguards are on patrol at 92 beaches every day over summer.

The red and yellow flags mark the safest place to swim.

People can also check SafeSwim for patrol times, hazards, safety warnings, conditions, and tides.

If you choose an unpatrolled beach, Surf Life Saving says you need to know your own limits and follow its five Beach Safety Messages:

• Know how to float
• Find the safest place to swim
• If in doubt, stay out
• Take care of others
• Know how to get help

The service also wants people to understand rips.

It says rips pull water away from shore and can look smooth, darker, and deeper, but can be hard to spot.

If you are caught in a rip, it says follow the 3 Rs: Relax, Ride, Raise.

Relax and float to save energy, raise your hand to signal for help, and ride the rip until it stops or you can swim parallel to shore to escape. It says not to swim directly against the rip.

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