A timely reminder from the MCA about beach safety. Ed
Now that the school holidays are here, Coastguards in England and Wales are encouraging children and families to stay safe whilst at the beach and along the coast.
George Crumpler, HM Coastguard Sector Manager at Aberystwyth says, “We want everyone who visits our coast to have a great time and to go home with happy memories. So we’ve prepared a few guidelines that visitors may like to consider before they set out.”
Prepare well for your day out
- Go to a lifeguarded beach if you can and always swim between the red and yellow flags;
- Check the weather and tides – remember you can get cut off by the tide;
blow-up toys are best used at the pool – never use them in rough seas or off-shore winds; - Supervise any children – take advantage of any wristband schemes;
- Stay away from cliff edges – they can be crumbly or slippery when wet;
- Don’t jump off cliffs and other high places into the sea – you don’t know what lurks beneath the surface;
- Keep your dog on a lead along cliff tops;
- Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for your day out;
If you or someone else gets into difficulty either tell the lifeguard if one is available or call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
Remember that all 999 calls are free and you can call 999 on your mobile even if you have no credit. Finally, have a great time and return home safely.”
Useful info
If you want to prepare your children for your day out on the coast, you might like to visit our kids’ activity zone at http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/kids/
The RNLI has launched a new ‘beach finder’ mobile app to make it easy for anyone heading to the seaside this summer to find their nearest lifeguarded beach. Go to www.rnli.org/beach for a free download. You can also get information about lifeguarded beaches from www.goodbeachguide.co.uk
You can check weather and tides at http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/leisure/
Image: Ron Saunders47 under CC BY 2.0
