Keeping safe at the beach

Contents

• Where to swim
• Safe swimming at the beach
• What else you can do
• Dr Kate says

Where to swim

In Australia we have lots of wonderful beaches. Some are better for swimming than others. Many are patrolled beaches, which means that there are lifeguards and surf rescue crews around in case anyone gets into trouble. These are the best places for kids to swim.

Of course it helps if you can actually swim!

Our safe swim campaigns have swimming lessons at all of the public pools and many of the school pools and swimming beaches during the summer school holidays. Look at http://www.vacswimsa.com/ for information on lessons in South Australia.

Be quick and join up if you want to learn. Whether you are a beginner or working your way through all the levels of swimming, it is a great idea to go to swimming lessons and learn how to keep yourself safe in water, as well as to have fun.

Safe swimming at the beach

To keep safe you need to remember a few rules:

Always swim between the red and yellow flags if it is a patrolled beach.

		Never swim alone in case you get into difficulty. No, Im not talking about sharks. Getting cramp, or being caught by a strong current, or getting washed off rocks cause a lot of people to get into trouble.
		If you think the sea is too rough, then do not go in. You know how good a swimmer you are, and it is being sensible, not chicken, to know when you could be putting yourself and others in danger.

	If you are doing a longer swim, then swim along the shore line, not out to sea and back - then if you get tired or into difficulty, you have a chance of getting back to shore, or the lifeguard can see you and help you if you need it.
	Don’t swim after dark, as no one can see you if you need help.
	If you hear the siren, or the lifeguards tell you to get out of the water, GET OUT AT ONCE. They know what they are doing and they give their time to keep you safe.

Floating around on a tyre or a blow up mattress can be fun in a swimming pool but isn't a good idea at the beach where you could be dumped by waves or carried out further than you are able to swim back.

What else you can do

Remember the jingle:

Let's add a couple more things to it:

Drink lots of water   Sit in the shade - stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm (daylight saving hours)   Rest for half an hour after eating   Slop on more sunscreen after you have been in the water   Put on thongs when you are walking on the sand - sand can be hot enough to burn your feet. Sometimes there may be sharp stones, broken glass or even needles buried in the sand.    So be safe.

Dr Kate says

If you are swimming or wading at a rocky beach, it's a good idea to wear an old pair of sandshoes or aqua socks to protect your feet from the rocks on your way in and out of the water. Our topics 'Sunburn' and 'Bites at the Beach' (see above) can give you more information on keeping yourself safe. Going to the beach is great, if you take care of yourself and your friends.

See the Swim and Survive web site and the Vacswimsa web site.

Also for some fun games about water safety see the Royal Lifesaving web site
http://www.royallifesaving.com.au/www/html/487-kids-online.asp 

We've collected this information to help you to understand important things about staying healthy and happy. However, if you feel sick or unhappy, it is important to tell your mum or dad, a teacher or another grown-up.