Stay Safe on the Beach This Year | RNLI Coastline Safety - Saltrock

Stay Safe on the Beach This Year | RNLI Coastline Safety

We know that visiting the beach and particularly going in the sea is one of the highlights of any holiday, but there are precautions that everyone can take to be extra safe and ensure everyone gets home in one piece. The south-west coast is home to many famous beaches and with all the fun that brings, it also brings a host of dangers. 

As a family brand with stores located in seaside towns, we feel that it is our duty to share some of the vital information given to us by the RNLI about beach safety this year. The RNLI’s concerns for the welfare of those using our beaches is at an all-time high this year because of the amount of expected ‘staycation’ holidays to seaside towns.

The Royal National Lifeboat Association (RNLI) is the largest charity that saves lives around the coast of the UK, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isles of Man, and some in land waterways. Funded mainly by donations, the search and rescue service they provide has been active for over 200 years and they have saved 143,100 lives in that time.

Which beaches should you visit to stay safe?

One of the best ways you can ensure your safety before even getting in the water is to make sure you only attend RNLI Lifeguarded beaches.

Some fantastic local areas for you to visit this year are Croyde, Woolacombe, Bournemouth, Newquay, Bude and Mumbles.

Croyde’s seaside charm brings a cool surfing crowd from all round the world and features a beach with waves that crash in from the Atlantic Ocean.

  • Woolacombe’s beach is one of the best beaches in the UK, winning TripAdvisor’s ‘Beach of the Year’ two years in a row. This 3-mile-long sandy beach is family owned and run with families in mind, with plenty of cafes and bars nearby for evening relaxation and fun.
  • Bournemouth is a great place to go, no matter the season. During the summer its beaches are full of families and friends, and during the colder seasons its beautiful scenery is a canvas fit for any dog-walk.
  • Newquay is a surfer’s dream, with some of the most fun beaches to visit. Rockpools, coves and golden sand, the beaches in Newquay have it all.
  • Bude is the ultimate beach-life hotspot. Whatever your beach preferences, you can find it here! Picture-perfect coves and glittering seascapes, Bude has plenty to choose from.

When on these beaches, make sure to familiarise yourself with the flags!

What can you do in a coastline emergency?

In an emergency dial 999 for the Coastguard.

 Stay back – Take a phone – Make it home

 Your four key coastal safety tips:

  1.  Look for rising tides. Check tide times online, watch out for the incoming tide and take a phone.
  2. Spot the dangers near cliffs. Beware of drops, edges, and falling rocks. Keep your family back and your dog on a lead.
  3. Don’t get caught out by winter seas. Keep yourself and your family back from the sea and don’t take risks.
  4. In an emergency dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

 What to do if someone is in trouble in the water?

 Working at the beach, you might be one of the first to hear or see someone in trouble in the sea. Know what to do in an emergency:

STEP 1: Call for help. Keep an eye on the casualty, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

STEP 2: Talk. Talk to the casualty, encourage them to keep calm and float.

Reassure them that you are getting help

STEP 3: Reach. Try to reach them from the shore using any life-saving equipment available. Don’t go in the water yourself

STEP 4: Throw. Throw a line to the casualty and pull them towards the shore if possible.

If you have any water safety concerns, email: watersafety@rnli.org.uk or visit: RNLI.org/BeCoastSafe for detailed safety information about their water-based activities.

RNLI Local Ambassador Scheme Meeting

Last week, we were lucky enough to be invited on to a conference call with the RNLI where they talked us through some of the dangers of the sea and their rising concern for summer 2021. We watched a series of educational videos and listened to the touching story of Susanne, a mother who was dragged out to sea by a rip current but was safely rescued thanks to our wonderful RNLI. We really do appreciate the work that they do to keep us safe and for this reason we have opted to become part of the RNLI Local Ambassador Scheme this year. As a family brand we feel that we owe it to our customers to share the RNLI’s message of beach safety. 

Be sure to keep your eye out for Saltrock’s Instagram stories, where we will be regularly re-sharing this information and more to keep our customers and their loved ones safe!

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