Beach safety
Beaches are great places but tragedies can happen.
Follow this simple advice to keep your family safe:
- Find a beach watched over by a lifeguard
- Don’t climb or sit under cliffs as they can be unstable and rocks can fall at anytime
- Don’t lose your children – they are safest when supervised. As soon as you get to the beach agree a meeting point in case of separation. If a child goes missing calmly check your surroundings first ensuring other children are monitored, contact the lifeguards or police and keep them informed and let all the searchers know once the child is found
- Be careful with inflatables – they are designed for pools not the sea. Ensure children are closely supervised.
- Please don't dig holes in the sand that are large enough to lie in. The sand can collapse and you may not be able to dig them out in time.
Red and Yellow – lifeguarded area safest place to swim, bodyboard and use inflatables
Black and white chequered – do not swim or bodyboard here. For surfboards, kayaks and other non-powered craft
Orange windsock – never use an inflatable – strong wind conditions
Red flag – danger – never go in the water when the red flag is up under any circumstances
Surfing advice
Listen to the lifeguards. Stay safe by:
- Wearing your leash so you don’t damage your board
- Check your equipment for damage before use
- Obey the flag code
- Consider other water users – learn surf etiquette and rights of way
- Don’t ditch your board it will keep you afloat in an emergency and make you easier to find
- Don’t go alone
- Don’t go in conditions beyond your capability