Good Beach Advice

• When you’re at the beach:
• Always tie inflatables to the shore and make sure children are in easy reach at all times – lilos, rubber rings and inflatable boats can easily drift miles out to sea with just a light breeze.
• Keep clear of any cliff edges as they can be slippery when they get wet – cliffs around the UK are very high and do sometimes give way under foot.
• Always swim close to the beach in line with the shore.
• Don’t drink and drown - eating and drinking before swimming may give you cramps while you’re in the water – you may then be unable to get back to the shore.
• Check the tides and the weather before you leave home – then you won’t get swept away. See our menu!
• Check the beach when you arrive and beware of rocks and breakwaters.
• Look out for warning signs and flags – red flag means it’s dangerous to swim, a red and yellow flag means lifeguards are on patrol and you should swim in the area between flags, a black and white flag means it’s an area used by surfers zone and is not suitable for swimming.
• Avoid rip tides and strong under surface currents which can carry you out to sea – calmer waters between areas of surf usually means dangerous rip currents.
  
  
  Dial 999 and ask for Coastguard if you see someone in trouble

Good Boating Advice

• Plan your trip carefully – remember to leave your trip details with friends or family ashore if you’re then overdue there is someone to alert the Coastguard!
• Triple check the safety equipment and your boat before you set sail – make sure you have a correct life jacket on board for each person and that each person wears the life jacket at all times.
• Always carry spare fuel or a paddle, water and food - just in case you are caught short.
• Sail within your limits and ability.
• Make sure everyone on board knows how to use the boat’s safety equipment.
• Ensure you have an appropriate means of communication should the worst happen and you find you need to contact the Coastguard.
• For safety and weather advice before you head out to sea, remember you can contact the local Coastguard. They will be able to tell you both the short and long term weather forecasts and advise you on the tide times for the area. National directory enquiries have the telephone numbers for all the local Coastguard stations around the UK. The local paper for the area should also print daily tide time tables.
  
• Phone the Coastguard if you are in trouble