Are you planning a nice beach getaway or a seaside walk? Learn how to deal with emergencies at the beach.
Whether you’re surfing all alone by yourself, or spending time with your family and friends at the beach, it’s always important to memorize a few fundamental safety tips.
A beach is a joyful place where people can get a great amount of pleasure and relaxation. In fact, seawater by itself is good for our health.
However, beaches also have an alternate and dark side. There are hidden dangers that can only be avoided if you follow a few basic safety precautions.
The ocean is not a swimming pool. In a swimming pool, you’re always aware of what the exact depth is, where the edges are, and the water in it is not moving, and not changing.
In the ocean, everything’s different, and that’s exactly what makes the ocean so much fun and enjoyable – it is constantly alive.
Know the Sandbars and Depth
However, the depth of the ocean is uneven. In a minute, you could be walking along and be in one depth and the next minute you’re over your head.
When you’re at sea, you don’t know where the sandbars are, and you can get hit by the waves quickly and dragged into a deeper area.
Because the ocean is relatively unpredictable, we need to rely on our actions to protect ourselves.
Enjoy Lifeguard-Protected Beaches Only
Whenever you plan a visit to the beach, alone or with your family and friends, try and swim at a spot that has a lifeguard.
Officially certified lifeguards will inform you about any dangers that you may not be aware – rocky sections, offshore sandbars, dangerous marine life, etc.
Also, pay attention to the several beach flags and signs that may be available in the sand. They provide valuable information about the place you’re at – beach facilities, local dangers, etc.
Assess Your Swimming Ability
In beaches without lifeguards, extra precaution is mandatory.
Assess what level of swimming ability you and your children have and never put them or you in dangerous situations.
If you have kids who are non-swimmers or weak swimmers they should always be within arm’s reach of somebody who can swim.
In case they do something that they weren’t expecting to do, there should be a parent or relative ready to assist them.
Checking your smartphone or reading a book is not safe if your children are still young and restless, and it’s not the lifeguard’s responsibility to babysit them.
Always remember that inflatable water toys like water wings, floaties and noodles are not safety devices because they weren’t designed for that and they’re not attached to you.
So if somebody feels comfortable going in the water over their head with a noodle if they lose the noodle, they’re now in grave danger.
Are you up for a swim? Swim with a friend or relative and look out for each other – always between the red-and-yellow supervised area flags.
Never enter the water after drinking alcoholic beverages or jump off rocks into shallow waters – death by drowning and spinal injuries are unfortunately very common in the world’s beaches.
Identify Potential Rip Currents
And what should you do when pulled into a rip current?
Rip currents are fast-moving and narrow streams of water that pull you away from the shore. They can occur at any beach that has breaking waves.
So before going into the water, check for any suspicious looking foamy and strangely quiet channels.
If you enter the water and feel a strong pull, make sure to get out immediately. As soon as the water gets up to your chest, it’ll be extremely difficult to break free.
If you’ve still got caught by the rip, stay calm – it won’t pull you underwater – and don’t exhaust yourself trying to fight the current.
In most cases, they’re no wider than 30 feet. So, if you start swimming parallel to the shore, you’ll manage to escape its pull.
You may also swim in the direction of the breaking waves, as they mark the borders of the rip current.
As soon as you get out of the current, swim diagonally towards the shore – this way you’ll avoid getting caught in it again.
Pay Attention to Marine Life Threats
Are you swimming in shark-infested waters? Get updated information on the latest shark sightings and never take unnecessary risks.
Also, look out for jellyfish, weever fish, Portuguese man-of-war, sea urchins, and live corals, as they may cause more or less painful and severe injuries.
Wearing sandals and protective clothing may, in some cases, drastically reduce the chances of being stung or suffering cuts and cruises.
Read The Weather Signs
A beach is a contemplative place, even when it’s rainy. However, it can also turn into a dangerous site, particularly when it gets cloudy.
Pay attention to the type of clouds forming in the sky, as there might be a storm or unexpected lightning strikes in the making.
Don’t fight the weather. Pack your things and leave the sand strip as quickly as possible.
Beaches have unique risks and hazards you may be unaware of. Enjoy the sun and the sea safely.
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