Staying safe at the beach
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Our beautiful coast and beaches are part of everyday life for many, with 85% of the population living within 50km of the coast. More than 16 million Australian residents (aged 16+ years) made over 650 million individual visitations to the coast in the last year, 86% of which were to a beach. Of the people who visit our coast, swimming remains the most popular coastal activity (57%), followed by boating (17%), then snorkelling (14%). One in three beachgoers visit unpatrolled beaches, where hazardous conditions and lower perceived risk heighten drowning risks. Unpatrolled beaches are popular, yet they pose significant dangers. (National Coastal Safety Report 2024)
Have you ever wondered what a rip is and how it is formed? A rip is a very strong and narrow current that is formed when the water brought onto the beach by the waves finds its way back to the ocean.
Darker water means deeper water. When waves crash onto the shore, they break, and that water must go somewhere. The water will travel along the beach until it finds, or carves, a deeper channel to make its way back out to the ocean.
So, what are the signs of a rip?
FEWER BREAKING WAVES. The ‘rip area’ is the deeper channel where water is on its way out, this area won't have as many breaking waves as the surrounding surf where the white-foam-tipped waves break onto the sand.
GAPS BETWEEN WAVES. Spots that seem much calmer than the rest of the beach are something to be wary of! It may seem tempting to head to that one spot that doesn’t seem to have any waves, but these spots are actually a hotbed for rip currents. The reason why there aren’t any waves is because water is rushing back to the ocean instead of towards the shore.
RIPPLED SURFACE surrounded by smooth waters. When various currents heading in all different directions are pushing towards one another, it will create a rippled effect.
SEAWEED, SAND AND SEDIMENT. An easy-to-spot sign of a rip current is the sandy clouds pulling out to sea. Because of its strength, a rip can gather a lot of sand along with seaweeds, sediments, and other debris, and drag these along.
It’s nearly impossible to fight against a strong rip – it can pull you away from the beach at the speed of one to two metres per second! Rips are more common on windy days (because wind makes waves), but just because it’s nice and sunny doesn’t mean that rips can’t form!
Did you know that a rip will lose its power once it is beyond the surf break? This means you can ride the rip out beyond the surf break and then move towards the waves that will help bring you back to shore. The most important things to remember if you are caught in a rip are to stay calm, signal for help and float to survive. The rip will not pull you under, panic and exhaustion will.
What should you do if caught in a rip?
• Stay calm
• Float to survive
• Let someone know you need help by raising your arm or calling out
• Wait to be rescued, or
• Move towards the waves and let them bring you back to shore.
How can you safely help someone in trouble in the water?
• In Australia, call 000 to alert emergency services (check your countries emergency number)
• Let the person in trouble know you have seen them (this will help them to be calm)
• Look to see who else is on the beach or in the water that may be able to help
• Only go into the water if you have the skills and equipment (floatation) to rescue someone
• If you have something that floats you can throw this into the rip
• Track the person in trouble so you can help direct emergency services to their location
Beach safety and summer surf tips:
The best way to stay safe at the beach is to learn about the surf environment so you can be aware of the risks and take precautions. Ask a lifesaver or lifeguard about the beach you are attending or check the BeachSafe app.
There are a number of safety strategies which can be used before and during a beach visit to ensure safety.
Plan before you go:
• Understand that not all beaches are the same and that some beaches are safer than others
• Consider the water ability of your family/friends when choosing which beach to go to
• Take floatation with you – this could save your own or others’ lives
• Check if you will have mobile coverage in the case of an emergency
• Surf Life Saving Australia’s BeachSafe app provides information about every Australian beach and safety advice that can help you to find a suitable beach.
When you are at the beach:
• The safest place to swim is in between the flags. If a surf lifesaver can see you, they can save you!
• Take time to check the surf conditions, look for rips and other dangers before you go into the water
• Don’t be complacent, ocean conditions can change very suddenly
• Parents and caregivers should always supervise children.
• Alcohol and water do not mix!
For more information:
SLSA BeachSafe: Rip Currents | SLSA Beachsafe
Information and Photo credits: SLSA, RNLI (Float to Live)
Don't forget to check out my children's water safety books that will help your family have important conversations on how to be safe around water and what to do if you need help.