Safety Tips Every Beachgoer Should Know
Tips for beach safety resemble an endless library. No single source has every answer, but the information is massive. Officials ranging from the United States Lifesaving Association to local beach-patrol captains hammer home the safety theme, in print and on websites.
On average, there are fewer than 100 drowning deaths among approximately 325 million annual beach visitors in the United States, according to the USLA. Yet, as we head into another summer season, the desired number, of course, is zero. Impossible, sure, but the total is likely to diminish with vigilance.
Toward that end, everyone should have some kind of safety playbook. Here is a starter kit. Feel free to widen it with your own observations.
• Start by embracing the overwhelmingly great odds. The chance of drowning decreases to 1 in about 18 million when swimming in front of a protected stand. This element is especially important in the early part of the season, when fewer beaches are guarded. Find one with a lifeguard, even if it means moving over a couple of beaches.
• Swim with a buddy. Many drownings involve single swimmers. A companion can have someone signal for assistance from others. At least have someone on shore watching you.
• Check with the lifeguards. They work to identify hazards that might affect swimmers. They can advise you on the safest place to swim, as well as locations to avoid. They want the public to have a safe day. Ask their advice.
• Use sunscreen and drink lots of water. Exposure to the sun affects one’s body. Without sunscreen, one can be seriously burned. The sun’s rays can also cause lifelong skin damage and skin cancer. Choose “broad spectrum” sunscreen rated from 15 to 50 SPF, or clothing that covers the skin, and reapply sunscreen throughout the day. The sun can also dehydrate a person quickly. Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol, which contributes to dehydration. Lifeguards treat people for heat exhaustion and heatstroke from time to time. Avoid the midday sun, if possible.
• Obey posted signs and flags. The flags may be flown by lifeguards to advise of hazards and regulations that change. Informational signs or the guards themselves can explain the regulations.
• Learn rip-current safety. The USLA has determined that about 80% of lifeguard rescues are prompted by rip currents. The situation is created by surf and gravity, because once surf pushes water up the slope of the beach, gravity pulls it back. This can create concentrated rivers of water moving offshore. Some people mistakenly call this an undertow, but there is no undercurrent, just an offshore current. The USLA advice: If you are caught in a rip current, don’t fight it by trying to swim directly to shore. Instead, swim parallel to shore until you feel the current relax, then swim to shore. Most rip currents are narrow and a short swim parallel to shore will bring one to safety. Swimmers not familiar with currents may end up blocks away from where they started. It is a good idea to spot a landmark where you entered the water and keep an eye on it while swimming. Always swim in front of a lifeguard and in waist-deep water or less.
• It’s important to remember eye protection at the beach. Daylong exposure to the sun can damage one’s eyes. Purchase glasses that have a UV sticker or tag indicating that the glasses provide protection from ultraviolet rays.
• Swim sober. Alcohol is a major factor in drowning. It can reduce body temperature and impair swimming ability. Alcohol and drugs also impair good judgment, which may cause people to take risks they otherwise would not take.
• Watch your kids. Every parent remembers that one time they couldn’t find their child on the beach. Even if it only lasted a second, it feels like an eternity. If a child happens to get lost, notify the lifeguards immediately. They have radios to communicate from beach to beach and will form an immediate search party. Before hitting the beach, teach your children to go to the nearest lifeguard if they get lost or need help.
• Clean up your trash. When leaving the beach, always clean up after yourself. There are trash and recycle containers at the top of every beach entrance. Avalon and Stone Harbor have some of the best beaches in the world. Please help us keep it that way.
• Beach games. There are so many great games to play on the beach such as bocce and paddleball, and each season brings something new and challenging. Have fun while playing but remember to set up away from where people are sitting. Don’t be surprised if the lifeguards ask you to play at the top of the beach and not near the water.
• No feeding the birds. Remember, do not feed the seagulls under any circumstances, not even your trash. When it’s time for lunch or snacks, do yourself a favor and hide under that umbrella. A hungry seagull is not shy about taking your food or biting your finger.
• Setting up camp. Watch the tide schedule. If you sit too close to the water before the tide comes in, it won’t be long before you are moving all of your suddenly saturated belongings up the beach. Always find a landmark. Pick something that everyone in your family will remember as a place to come back to in case someone gets lost. Make sure you pick something like a house or a sign; something that won’t move like a neighbor’s umbrella or beach chair.
• Invest in a good umbrella. If you don’t already have an umbrella, invest in one, as well as an anchor. The sun is stronger than you think, and you can easily get burned – or even worse, suffer from heat exhaustion. Under an umbrella is a great place to have your lunch, take a nap, or just observe while taking a break from the sun. However, make sure you insert the umbrella into the sand correctly and securely. Umbrellas rolling down a windy beach can be incredibly dangerous.
So, pack a good lunch, plenty of water, and sit yourself down in a comfortable beach chair and relax! After all, that’s the best part about being here.
