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Beach safety advice
There's nothing better than hitting the beach on a sunny day. But don't let your day be ruined by trouble in the water.
With more people visiting the beach than ever before, our lifeguards and lifeboat crews have never been busier. We believe that, by providing beach safety advice and education programmes, many more lives can be saved.
Top beach safety tips
Wherever possible, swim at a lifeguarded beach. Go to goodbeachguide.co.uk to search for listings throughout the UK, or find a lifeguarded beach in the Republic of Ireland on the Irish Water Safety website.
Always read and obey the safety signs, usually found at the entrance to the beach. These will help you avoid potential hazards on the beach and identify the safest areas for swimming.
When on a lifeguarded beach, find the red and yellow flags and always swim or bodyboard between them – this area is patrolled by lifeguards.
Never swim alone.
If you get into trouble, stick your hand in the air and shout for help.
If you see someone in difficulty, don't attempt a rescue. Tell a lifeguard, or, if you can't see a lifeguard, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.
If you are hiring equipment for a surfsport, try to do so from a member of the Surf Hire Safety Scheme. Scheme members check equipment regularly for damage, rent out equipment suitable to your ability and offer safety advice for the local area. Read more or find an outlet.
Know your flags
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Red and yellow flags indicate the area patrolled by lifeguards. These are the safe areas to swim, bodyboard and use inflatables. |
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Black and white chequered flags Black and white chequered flags indicate an area zoned by lifeguards for the use of watercraft such as surfboards and kayaks. Never swim or bodyboard in these areas. |
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The red flag indicates danger. Never enter the water when the red flag is flying, under any circumstances. |
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The orange windsock indicates offshore wind conditions. You should never use an inflatable when the sock is flying. |
Hazards and dangers-old
Rip currents (Rips)
Rips are strong currents running out to sea, which can easily take swimmers from shallow water out beyond their depth. They are especially powerful in larger surf, but are also found around river mouths, estuaries and man-made structures like piers and groynes.
How to spot a rip current
Discoloured, brown water (caused by sand being stirred up from the seabed)
Foam on the water's surface
Debris floating out to sea
A rippled patch of sea, when the water around is generally calm.
How to get out of trouble
If you are caught in a rip or strong current, obey the three Rs:
Relax: Stay calm and float. Do not swim against the current, swim across it.
Raise: Raise an arm to signal for help. If possible, shout to shore for help.
Rescue: Float and wait for assistance. Do not panic; people drown in rips because they panic. Obey directions from the lifeguard.
If you think you are able to swim in, swim parallel to the beach until out of the effects of the rip and then make your way to shore.
Tides and waves
Keep an eye on tides. Always check the tide before you enter the water. If you are not sure, check with a lifeguard.
Be careful not to get cut off by the tide when walking along the shore.
Always ensure your children are not in danger from the tide when playing on the beach.
Don't think it is safe to wave dodge. The sea is unpredictable and what looks like fun could end in tragedy, with large waves taking you out to sea.
Spilling waves are the safest to swim in. They appear when the top of the wave tumbles down the front.
Dumping waves break with great force in shallow water. These are dangerous waves that usually occur during low tide. Avoid the sea when you see dumping waves.
Tombstoning
Tombstoning is a high-risk activity that involves jumping or diving from a height into water. It can be dangerous because:
water depth alters with the tide
the water may be shallower than it seems - submerged objects like rocks may not be visible
the shock of cold water may make it difficult to swim
strong currents can rapidly sweep people away.
Sonny Wells speaks about how he ended up in a wheelchair after a tombstoning incident went wrong.
However, for those who wish to participate in tombstoning, taking into account the following advice beforehand can reduce the risks:
Check for hazards in the water. Rocks or submerged objects under the sea may not be visible through the surface.
Check the depth of the water. Remember, tides can rise or fall very quickly; it may start off deep enough but can quickly become shallower.
As a rule of thumb, a jump of 10m requires a depth of at least 5m.
Never jump while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or peer pressure.
Consider the risk to others. Remember, young people could be watching and attempt to mimic the activity.
Check for access; it may be impossible to get out of the water.
Coasteering
At present, there is no formal accreditation scheme for coasteering schools, so you should select a school carefully. We advise that you only go coasteering as part of a group that has:
professionally trained staff (both technical and water safety based)
adequate insurance cover
safety equipment (such as helmets, wetsuits)
emergency evacuation and accident procedures
pre-defined routes.
Bodyboarding
When buying a bodyboard, always purchase a leash and flippers.
Always use your board on a lifeguarded beach, between the red and yellow flags.
If you get into trouble, don't abandon your board – it will keep you afloat. Wave your hand and shout for help.
If you are hiring a board, aim to use a member of the Surf Hire Safety scheme.
Surfing
Wherever possible, surf at a lifeguarded beach and follow the advice of the lifeguards.
Novices should surf between the black and white flags.
Ask a lifeguard for advice on where to surf.
Always have a lesson at an approved BSA or ISA school.
Always wear your leash.
If you get into trouble, don't abandon your board – it will keep you afloat. Wave your hand and shout for help.
Never surf alone.
Never surf between the red and yellow flags.
Never drop in on another surfer.
If you are hiring a board, aim to use a member of the Surf Hire Safety scheme.
Inflatables
inflatable toys are great fun in pools, but we strongly advise against using them in the sea, as there is a high chance of being swept out.
If you really want to use an inflatable in the sea, you should do so on a lifeguarded beach, between the red and yellow flags.
Never use an inflatable when the orange windsock is flying. This indicates an offshore wind, which could carry you out to sea.
Never use an inflatable in choppy sea conditions.
Children's inflatables should always be secured with a line, held securely by an adult.
Beach management
The RNLI is proud to work in partnership with local authorities to achieve the common objective of making our beaches safer.
Our lifeguards work with local authorities to provide cover on more than 160 beaches in the UK and the Channel Islands.
We also provide risk assessment services and guidance on signage and public rescue equipment.
Hazards and dangers
Beach Finder app
You can search the UK for beaches with lifeguards to make sure you have a safe and fun trip to the coast this Summer.
You can also see real-time weather information, enter our fun sandcastle competition, complete a challenging beach quiz and send virtual postcards!
Features:
Search the UK for beaches with lifeguards. Enter our sandcastle competition (March - September). Test your knowledge with a challenging beach quiz.
Send virtual postcards from your favourite beaches. Check in at beaches using Twitter or Facebook. View live weather and 5-day forecasts. Check water quality with information from the Marine Conservation Society. View lifeguard season dates, patrol times and safety warnings.
The RNLI sandcastle competition is now closed for 2012. Thank you to everyone who sent in your photos, we had some very creative entries. To see the top 5 entries, including the winner click here. |
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Sandcastle comp ts and cs
RNLI Text Sandcastle Competition (the "Competition") Terms and Conditions
These terms and conditions apply in addition to the specific rules stated in the promotional materials for the Competition.
All entrants must be 18 years of age or above and a resident of mainland UK. The Competition is not open to employees of the RNLI or their immediate family.
By submitting your entry you confirm that you are the owner of the entry and that you assign all copyright and other intellectual property rights in your entry to the RNLI and you irrevocably and unconditionally waive in perpetuity any so called 'moral rights' in your entries and grant any consents required under the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 so that the RNLI may use and amend your entries in any way without limitation.
All images submitted for the Competition may be used on RNLI websites, in RNLI publicity literature and publications; national, local and international publications that seek to promote the work of the RNLI without further consideration or any financial reward. Once an image is published or posted on the RNLI's website the image can be downloaded by any computer with access to the Internet and the RNLI cannot be held responsible.
The RNLI will endeavour to display as many of the images as possible but reserve the right to display images at their discretion.
The winning entry will be judged by a panel of RNLI employees. The decision of the RNLI will be binding and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into. If a winner does not claim a prize within 28 days of being notified, or if a winner is not available to take up the prize, the RNLI reserves the right to award the prize to another entrant without liability to the winner.
The winning entry will receive a two-night break for a family of four at The Lifeboat College at RNLI Headquarters, West Quay Road in Poole. This will include breakfast and an evening meal. Travel is not included and the stay will be on mutually agreed dates. The prize is non-transferable and there is no cash alternative. The winning entry will be displayed on the RNLI's website along with the winner's name and hometown.
Entry into the Competition will be deemed to constitute acceptance of these terms and conditions.
These terms and conditions are governed by English law and are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.
Sandcastle competition entries
An RNLI lifeboat carved out of sand by James Twynham is the winner of our exclusive sandcastle competition 2012.
We received so many fantastic entries to the seasonal competition, which is featured on our Beach Safety app. Thank you so much to everyone who entered.
From spectacular sandcastles to scary sea monsters, your imaginations really did run wild. And we were really impressed with your construction skills!
It was a difficult decision, but extra points were awarded if the sandcastle had an RNLI theme. And James’s amazing lifeboat had just that.
Congratulations to the Twynham family!
We hope you enjoy your 3-night break for four staying at RNLI College in Poole, Dorset.
You can see James’s winning sandcastle below amongst our pick of the top five entries.
Get ready for Summer 2013
We can’t wait to see the entries for next Summer’s sandcastle competition.
The competition runs March to September, which gives you plenty of time to think about your extraordinary sandcastle ideas!
Risk assessment
The RNLI can provide the technical expertise to help beach operators carry out a thorough risk assessment and implement effective risk management strategies. The purpose of a risk assessment is to:
ensure that potential safety problems are properly understood
check whether existing control measures (including emergency plans) are adequate
determine what is necessary to reduce risks to a reasonable level
prioritise unacceptable risks identified by the assessment and determine further action.
The RNLI has developed a beach risk assessment model and a beach safety management model. Get in touch to find out more.
Signage
Signage is a simple way to present advice to beach visitors, but we believe there is room for improvement in the standard of signage on the UK's beaches.
Issues include:
differing signs from location to location
signs not conforming to an identifiable standard
confusion arising from information on signs (too little/too much/incorrect)
signs not being understood by beach visitors.
What is needed is a signage programme that will:
reduce the potential of death by drowning
provide a cost-effective method of giving advice at a remote location
conform to relevant standards
reduce risk of litigation
communicate with beach visitors
present the right information in a standard format.
A common standard will lead to improved understanding by the community and will make it easy to conduct effective education campaigns.
The RNLI's Guide to Beach Safety Signs, Flags and Symbols, which has the endorsement of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and a number of other organisations with an interest in water safety, has the potential to achieve significant improvements in beach safety.
We are seeking support for the guide to be implemented as the accepted standard for beach safety signage in the UK.
We can work with local operators, using the guide to help them implement their own beach signage plans.
Public rescue equipment
Much of the public rescue equipment (PRE) found on UK beaches is not fit for purpose. In some cases, this has led to drownings.
The RNLI, in consultation with other water-related bodies, has produced the world's first coastal managers' guide to PRE. Previously, there were no standards in the UK to help coastal managers determine and manage their PRE requirements.
Working with the University of Wales Institute and the University of Plymouth, a robust testing methodology was developed and implemented, with trials undertaken in a survival tank and in various coastal environments.
More than 500 public trials took place to identify the most effective PRE. Research was also conducted on the following aspects of PRE: emergency communications, most suitable locations, maintenance, auditing tools and frequency of checks, signage, user-instruction information and ways to reduce vandalism and theft.
The 50-page publication, A Guide to Coastal Public Rescue Equipment, was launched in the UK in June 2007. Copies have now been distributed to all UK coastal managers and private beach owners.