In 2014, lifeguards from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) responded to 17,050 incidents, helping more than 19,350 people in difficulty on some of the UK's busiest beaches.
Most of the people they helped were children and the most common type of incident, counting people of all ages, involved rip currents that can quickly take people out of their depth.
"Rip currents cause the most incidents and can occur at any beach with waves - so that's most of the UK coast. This is why we encourage people to swim between the red and yellow flags at lifeguarded beaches. Lifeguards know their beaches and are experienced in spotting rips and other dangers. They place the flags to identify the safest areas to swim," says JoJo Mains, RNLI's beach safety manager.
Tips for beachgoers
To avoid getting into difficulty at the seaside, follow these safety tips from the RNLI.
1. Swim at a beach patrolled by lifeguards
"This is the single most important message from the RNLI," says JoJo. "This is because you are far less likely to drown on a lifeguarded beach, plus first aid and other assistance is immediately available from RNLI lifeguards."
Find the red-and-yellow flags and always swim or bodyboard between them. This is the safest part of the beach, because it's where the lifeguards patrol. Lifeguards will move the flags to adjust for changing conditions during the course of the day, as rip currents and other dangers can come and go with the tide and varying weather conditions.
Not all beaches have lifeguards. To find beaches where there are lifeguards on duty during the summer months, use the search facility on the Good Beach Guide website.
2. Look for information and follow advice
Find out about the beach before you go there, and check the weather and tide times. Ask at the local tourist information office or use the Good Beach Guide to find out about facilities at more than 500 beaches around the UK. See the bottom of this page for more information on tides.
When you get to the beach, read the safety signs at the entrance. This will help you to identify and avoid hazards, and find out about the safest areas to swim. The signs will also have specific information that you can give emergency services to help them locate you quickly.
3. Never swim alone
4. If you get into trouble in the sea, stick your hand in the air and shout for help
5. If you see someone else in trouble, tell a lifeguard
If you can't see a lifeguard, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.
6. Never use inflatables in strong winds or rough seas
"Even a slight breeze offshore can sweep you out to sea very quickly," says JoJo.
When there is little or no wind, only use inflatables between the red-and-yellow flags, and make sure children are closely supervised.
7. Supervise children
Keep an eye on children at all times and agree on a meeting point when you arrive at the beach, in case you're separated.
8. Don't go into the sea after drinking alcohol
Alcohol slows your reactions and can impair your ability to judge distances.
9. Know your flags
On beaches patrolled by lifeguards, different flags tell you where it's safest to swim and which areas are designated for watersports.
The area between the red-and-yellow flags is patrolled by lifeguards. This is the safest place to swim, bodyboard and use inflatables.
The area between black-and-white chequered flags is a designated area for watersports such as surfing and kayaking. Never swim or bodyboard here.
The orange windsock means there are offshore winds. Never use an inflatable when you see the sock flying, as the wind could push you offshore very quickly.
The red flag indicates that it is dangerous to swim or get in the water. Never go in the water when the red flag is flying.
The dangers of the sea
Rip currents
Rips are strong currents that can quickly take swimmers from shallow water to water beyond their depth.
Signs of a rip include: discoloured, brown water (caused by sand being stirred up from the seabed), foam on the water's surface and debris floating out to sea.
If you're caught in a rip, the RNLI's advice is:
- Stay calm.
- If you can stand, wade. Don't swim.
- Keep hold of your board or inflatable to help you float.
- Raise your hand and shout for help.
- Never try to swim directly against the rip or you'll get exhausted.
- Swim parallel to the beach until free of the rip, then make for shore.
Tides
The tide can come in surprisingly quickly. Many lifeboat and lifeguard rescues involve people being stranded by the tide. Find out about the tides from the local tourist information office or from BBC Weather's tide tables.
When you're on the beach, keep a lookout for the tide's direction and be aware of how fast the water's coming in, especially if you're playing in rock pools.
Waves
Watch out for waves, especially if you have small children. Even a small wave can knock a child over. Dumping waves are particularly dangerous. These waves break with great force in shallow water and occur during low tide.
Tombstoning
Many people have been seriously hurt or killed by tombstoning (jumping from a height into water). Tombstoning is dangerous for several reasons:
- The water depth changes with the tide and the water may be more shallow than you think.
- Rocks or other submerged objects may not be visible.
- The water may be cold and the shock could make it difficult to swim.
- There can be strong currents that could sweep you away.
Read about tombstoning and watch two short films about the dangers of tombstoning on the RNLI website.
Other beach hazards
Sunburn
For tips on avoiding sunburn and protecting your skin and eyes from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays, see sun protection.
Dehydration
Make sure you have plenty of water to drink. Even on a cool day, the sun and wind can dehydrate you.
Avoid drinking alcohol at the beach. It contributes to dehydration, affects judgement and leads to greater risk-taking. Never enter the water when you've been drinking alcohol.
Weever fish and jellyfish stings
The weever fish is a small fish with venomous spines on its back. If you step on one, the sting can be very painful. For weever fish stings, the RNLI's advice is to place the affected area in water as hot as is comfortable, making sure you test the water first, so you don't scald the person who has been stung.
If someone has been stung by a jellyfish, do not rub the affected area, as this will make the pain worse. Lightly spray the area with seawater and apply a cold compress if it's available.
Read more about the potential perils of open water swimming.
Insect stings
For information on how to treat stings and how to tell if a person needs urgent medical help, read about how to treat insect stings.
Article provided by NHS Choices