Tips for being safe at the coast

It’s a rare experience for most people and caution should thus be exercised.

The ocean is a fantastic place to be for most, where young children frolic on the shore while the bigger children brave the deeper waters.

The ocean can also be dangerous as it is extremely powerful.

Here are some tips on how you can be safe while still enjoying yourself.

• Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.

• Never swim alone, always take someone with you. This is called the ‘buddy system’.

• Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear life jackets around water.

• Before entering the sea swimmers should take time to watch the waves and should avoid places where there is a strong backwash, obvious rip currents or a danger of being washed onto rocks.

• Check the weather and tides before you leave home, if the sea’s too rough then you could get swept away.

• If you experience a strong current get out of the sea, or remain well within your depth.

• It is better to swim when the tide is rising, the sea will tend to wash you ashore and the backwash and rip currents are not so strong.

• If lifeguards give you directions or instructions from the stand, obey them.

• Look out for warning signs and flags, a red flag means it’s dangerous to swim, a red and yellow flag means lifeguards are on patrol and you should swim in the area between flags.

• Avoid swimming immediately after a big meal, as there is a danger of getting cramps.
• Do not dive into shallow sea.

• Do not swim in river mouths, dirty water or when bluebottles are present.

• If you are confronted by a large wave and there is not enough time to get away from it, dive underneath the wave and keep your body as low as possible until the wave passes over you.

• If caught in rip currents, relax and swim toward the shore at a 45-degree angle until you are free of the current.

• Never try to swim ashore against the current this will only tire you.

• If the rip currents are strong, swim parallel with the shoreline in the same direction as the current and then swim diagonally toward the shore.

• If you are not able to swim out of the currents, call or wave for help.

Sources: https://www.redcross.org/ and https://www.accidents.co.za/