Beach safety warning issued by RNLI

1:42pm Monday 21st July 2008

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As the school holidays start, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is asking people to take a few simple steps to make sure they and their families stay safe at the beach this summer.

Last summer, RNLI lifeboats in the north of England launched 295 times to beach-related incidents, including children in trouble on inflatables, swimmers in difficulty and people cut off by the tide.

In a bid to help people stay out of danger, the lifesaving charity has launched a free beach safety guide, ‘On the Beach’, which is packed full of hints and tips including what to consider when choosing a beach, understanding beach safety signs and flags, what to do if you get caught in a rip current, how to treat stings, and how to swim and board safely.

The guide advises people to research their chosen beach before they visit to ensure it is suitable for their chosen activity and highlights the Good Beach Guide website www.goodbeachguide.co.uk as an excellent source of information on beaches around the UK and RoI.

The RNLI also wants people to remember its simple SAFE message at the beach: Spot the dangers Always go with a friend Find and read the safety signs and flags Emergency? Stick your hand up and shout, tell a lifeguard or dial 999/112 for the Coastguard RNLI Sea Safety Manager in the north, Tony Clare, said the charity’s own research* shows safety is a very low priority for most people when they are deciding which beach to visit.

He added: ‘Only 5 per cent of people claim to choose a beach for its safety features. Familiarity, cleanliness and location are much more common reasons for choosing which beach to visit but we would urge people, wherever possible, to try to visit beaches with lifeguards to ensure they and their families enjoy a safe trip to the seaside.

‘We also want people to remember our SAFE message and to read our beach safety guide, particularly if they are taking children to the beach. We don’t want to stop people having fun at the coast this summer but we do want to try to avoid a trip to the seaside turning into a tragedy.’ For a free copy of the guide, email beachsafety@rnli.org.uk or call 0800 328 0600. Copies are also available from most RNLI lifeboat stations, RNLI lifeguard units, plus selected Tourist Information Centres, service stations, Little Chef restaurants and tourist attractions throughout the summer season. RNLI beach safety advice is also available at www.rnli.org.uk/beachsafety.