A day at the beach can be a great experience for all the family. It’s the perfect way to unwind, enjoy nature, and even bond as a family.
However, the beach can be a dangerous place, especially if you are not a frequent visitor. It’s important to respect the power of the water and adopt the following safety tips.
Use A Beach With Surf Lifesavers
Surf Lifesavers rescue more than 10,000 people every year from the water. They are trained to watch the water, react quickly, and offer medical assistance when needed. In short, choosing a beach with a surf lifesaver on means you have more chance of surviving if you do experience issues in the water.
In addition, they will set up flags to tell you the safest place to swim and warn you of any issues as they occur.
You should note that surf lifesavers are volunteers. They look after you on the beach out of the kindness of their hearts. You can help support them and ensure they have the equipment they need by arranging to donate to Surf Life Saving Australia. One-off and regular donations are appreciated.
Wear Sun Protection
It is easy to forget how powerful the sun is, especially if you are going in and out of the water. The coolness of the water will help you to forget how hot the sun actually is. This can result in sunburn which is painful and can be damaging to your long term health.
All you need to do is put a suitable SPF on your skin before you arrive at the beach and top it up as needed.
Keep An Eye On Children
If you’re at the beach with children then you need to keep an eye on them. Beaches can be busy places and children tend to wander without thinking about where they started from. That means that they can get lost in the crowd and be unable to find you or they can even enter the water without you knowing.
It’s important to keep an eye on them at all times, make sure they know not to go in the water without you knowing. It is also a good idea to show them where the surf lifesaver station is and tell them to go there if they become lost.
Know What A Rip Is
A rip is a powerful underwater current of water that is usually hard to spot. The lifesavers will alert you to any issues. But, if you find yourself caught in a rip make sure you swim diagonally with the rip, never try to swim against it as you’ll simply tire yourself out and get into trouble.
Don’t Turn Your Back On The Waves
If you put your back to the waves you don’t know what is coming. You may be surprised by how powerful the waves can be, they can roll you up the beach and even suck you back down. That leaves you little time to breathe and plenty of opportunities to be injured.
It’s safer to see the waves at all times.
A beach day should be a fun day. Providing you take sensible precautions and stay hydrated; it should be a great day for everyone involved.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
