Beach Safety At Bantham
The importance of being safe at the beach and in the sea cannot be over stressed. Be sure to spend a few minutes checking the conditions or speak to a lifeguard before entering the water. The most common incidents at Bantham involve either Weaver fish stings or rip currents.
Top Ten Safety Tips
- Always swim or surf at a beach patrolled by lifesavers or lifeguards.
- Swim between the red and yellow flags. They mark the safest areas to swim.
- Avoid swimming alone or unsupervised.
- Read the signs. Never enter the water if the RED flag is flying. This indicates it is too dangerous.
- If you are unsure of the surf conditions ask a lifeguard or lifesaver.
- Don't swim directly after a meal.
- Don't swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Don't run or dive in the water, always check the conditions, they might have changed.
- If you get in trouble in the water, don't panic, raise one arm up and float until help arrives.
- Float with a rip current or undertow, don't swim against it.
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Water Safety Code
Always follow the 4-point water safety code:Spot the dangers
- Check out the beach when you arrive
- Take care when bathing and swimming
- Beware of rocks, boat lane ropes etc
- Be aware of dangerous rip currents
- Swim with a friend – Never go on your own
- Make sure there are other people around – you never know when help might be needed
Take safety advice- Swim where there is a lifeguard on patrol and within a zoned area of red/yellow flags
- Look out for information - warning signs and flags
- Never swim where a sign says not to, or when a red flag is flying
- Listen and take advice from lifeguards
- If you see someone in difficulty, tell somebody, preferably a lifeguard if there is one nearby, or
- Go to the nearest telephone, dial 999 or 112, ask for the coastguard
- You can learn lifesaving and rescue skills
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Rip Currents
A number of incidents at Bantham involve rips. What are rips and how can we avoid them?
A rip is a strong current of water running out to sea. It usually occurs when a channel forms between sandbars or rocks. Waves build up water on the beach which then returns out to sea through the channel forming a fast flowing current. The larger the surf the stronger the rip. Rip currents are dangerous as they can carry a weak or tired swimmer out into very deep water. Rip currents are the main cause of surf rescues.
Identifying a rip current - these features will alert you to the presence of a rip:
- murky brown water, caused by sand stirred up off the sea bed
- a rippled look, when the water around is more or less calm
- waves breaking further out on both sides of a rip
- darker colour of sea, indicating deep water
- debris floating out to sea
At Bantham the RIP occurs when there is a good swell (waves) pushing in at ANY state of the tide. It predominately pulls water from right to left as you look at the sea and pulls out alongside the rocks on the left of the beach.
If you are caught in a rip current:- don't panic!
- if you are a strong swimmer, swim at an angle of 45 degrees across the rip current, towards the beach away from the rocks. Never directly into the rip!
- if you are tired or an inexperienced swimmer let the rip take you out from the beach and then either signal for assistance (wave one hand above your head in the direction of the beach/club house) and or swim parallel to the shore for 30 to 40 meters to where the waves are breaking and come straight back to shore.
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Weaver fish
The Lesser Weaver fish is a common native fish with 3 spines on its back and grows up to 15 cm in length. Weaver fish stings usually arise from standing on the fish which buries itself in the sand in shallow water at low tide. The spines puncture the foot and cause swelling and pain.
Immersing the affected foot in a bowl of hot water (as hot as can be comfortably tolerated) for 10 – 20 minutes can alleviate symptoms. In some cases an allergic reaction can take place and appropriate medical attention should be sought.
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Sun Safety
Too much exposure to the sun's harmful rays can do serious damage to your body. Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the UK, with thousands of new cases diagnosed every year. Spending even just a short time in the sun can lead to sun burn, heat exhaustion and even sun stroke which in some cases leads to illness and possible death.
Remember Slip, Slap, Slop- Slip on a shirt, preferably long sleeve
- Slap on a hat
- Slop on some appropriate sunscreen
It is also a good idea to avoid exposure to sun during the hottest part of the day 10am-3pm and take advantage of shade when possible. It is important to remember to keep hydrated with plenty of water and protect your eyes with a good pair of sunglasses offering 100% UV protection.