Safe and sand
Monday 11 July 2005
It's summer (just about), the sun is shining and all you really want to do is get out from in front of the TV, and get down to the beach.
But how do you pick your beach? Do you go for the sandiest? The sunniest? What about the safest? But how much do you know about beach safety? Have you waves of confidence or are you lost in the quicksand of ignorance (Er, that's enough of the beach-related wordplay, thanks- Ed)?
The survey says...
A recent survey by the lifeboat charity RNLI found that only four per cent of beachgoers considered safety factors when choosing a beach to have fun on.
Most people who took part in the survey said that the only thing they really were worried about was excessive litter, or insufficient sand. It seems that hardly anybody thought about whether the beach they had chosen to go to was safe enough for them.
Although most people said they would never swim in polluted waters, other hazards such as waves, currents and piers went ignored, despite the fact that waves could wash a person out to sea, and rip currents can pull even the heaviest person under the water.
Flag it up
To make sure that your fun isn't spoiled, you should look out for and read all warning signs, and keep an eye on the speed of the advancing tide when on the beach. The RNLI has introduced a beach safety code, known as FLAGS, which although originally designed for beaches where there are lifeguards, parts of it can be applied to pretty much any beach:
F Find the red and yellow flags and swim between them
L Look at the safety signs
A Always ask a lifeguard for advice
G Get a friend to swim with you
S Stick your hand in the air and shout for help if you get into difficulty.
If you see someone in difficulty, you should tell a lifeguard if you can find one. If you're on a beach where there is no lifeguard, you should call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
If you need any more information about being safe on the beach, visit www.beachsafety.org.uk.
