Beach safety urged across the holiday season

As WA looks set to deliver ideal beach weather for the Christmas break, Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA) urges beachgoers to remain vigilant when heading to the beach over the coming holidays.

“We know that going to the beach on Christmas Day and over the holiday period is a truly Australian thing to do,” said SLSWA General Manager Lifesaving, Chris Peck.

“For many families, this may be the only time of year that they do visit the beach, so we remind them to heed the age-old advice of seeking out a patrolled location and swimming between the red and yellow flags to ensure they have an enjoyable day and go home safely at the end of it.”

Mr Peck said that many volunteer surf lifesavers would be putting their hands up to spend time patrolling WA beaches and keeping watch over beachgoers across the Christmas and New Year break.

“We encourage people to chat to the lifesavers about the local conditions, the best place to swim and to heed their safety advice when necessary – every beach has its unique environment which can present risks to those unfamiliar with the area.”

SLSWA’s Beach Safety Tips include:

• Plan your trip by finding where and when lifesaver patrols are scheduled. Visit www.beachsafe.org.au or download the free Beachsafe App for local beach patrol details.
• Swim between the red & yellow flags – this is where the lifesavers can best see you.
• Remember your limitations, especially when trying out new holiday gifts like stand-up paddle boards. And remember, large inflatables, which a gust of wind can easily pick up, are unsuitable for the beach environment.
• Remember that alcohol and swimming never mix.
• On crowded beaches, it is easy to lose sight of children quickly, so stay alert.
• Wear a lifejacket if you are boating, rock fishing or on watercraft.
• Stay hydrated, cover up, and, where possible, seek out shade.

SLSWA’s Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters will also continue daily patrols across WA beaches, with the metropolitan-based service covering from Yanchep in the north, to Rottnest Island in the east and Mandurah in the south, while the south west service patrols from Bunbury in the north to Hamelin Bay in the south.