|
 |
Beach Safety |
Think about safety first, last and
safety always!
|
Supervision
When children are introduced to water
play in pools or on the beach safety is of critical importance.
SUPERVISE CHILDREN NEAR WATER - ALWAYS!
Supervision without any distractions is
the single most important precaution you
can take. Children learn by exploring
their environment, new adventures are
only a few steps away. Parents know from
experience how quickly children can do
something unexpected.
Proper supervision in and around water
means a responsible adult keeping young
children in their care both
WITHIN SIGHT
and
WITHIN REACH.
|
|
As a parent, care giver or organizer it is your
responsibility to:
-
Supervise water time.
-
Provide adequate supervision.
-
Remind children of the safety rules, and see
that the rules are
enforced.
-
Provide sufficient opportunities for safe,
supervised and fun water experiences.
-
Alcohol and Supervision do not mix.
Don't
let your guard down at beaches. These open
waters are exciting, fun areas for children. But
they too are potentially dangerous.
Therefore:
-
Closely supervise children yourself - do not
leave the task to any lifeguards who might
be on duty.
-
Never let children swim alone.
-
Learn how to read the water at the beach so
that you can recognise dangerous places.
-
Never allow children to play unsupervised
with inflatable toys. These "toys" are not
lifesaving devices!
-
Do not allow children to dive from heights.
Enjoying the
beach should be both safe and fun, especially if
you follow a few basic safety tips.
On patrolled & un-patrolled
beaches:
-
Read and obey the safety signs.
-
Listen to advice from
Lifeguards. (Patrolled
Beaches Link)
-
Never swim alone. Always swim under
supervision.
-
Never swim when tired or cold.
-
Know your own limits.
-
If in doubt stay out.
-
Stay out of the water if Portuguese
Man-of-War or jelly Fish are spotted
in your swimming area.
-
Learn to recognise rip currents and
undertow.
-
Always use safe equipment.
-
Consider other beach users.
-
For all
emergencies
call 911.
|
|
|
Rip
Currents -
What is a rip?
Some of our popular
South Shore beaches can develop Rip Currents. A rip is a strong
current of water running out to sea. Rips are
formed by water in the form of waves washing up
onto the beach, this water needs to find its way
back out to sea. The force of
water forms a channel or pathway beyond the
break called a rip.
View
Hazards of a Water Environment
To avoid rips, look our
for:
Sandy
Mushroom shaped areas.
A darker colour because the water is deeper.
A calm rippled surface, generally with smaller
waves
Debris or foam floating on the surface out to
sea.
How to
Get out of a Rip
If caught in a
rip, stay calm. Tread water or float and
allow the rip to pull you out. Swim
parallel to shore until out of the rip and
return to the beach. Or
signal for help and wait for a lifesaver
to rescue you.
If you make a
mistake and get caught in a rip, you can
survive if remember.
|
|
Relax: |
Stay calm, and float with the current.
Swim across it our parallel to the shore
not against it.
|
|
|
Raise: |
Raise an arm to signal for help.
|
|
|
Rescue: |
Float and wait for assistance. |
|
Undertow or Runback
There are a few beaches in Bermuda that have a
very bad undertow, such as Warwick Long Bay and
Windsor Beach. An undertow is caused by the
angle of the beach near the water's edge. The
steeper the angle of the beach, the stronger the
undertow. This can pull a person down and into
the next wave. Extra caution should be used on
these beaches.
|
