Beach safety: How to spot a rip and avoid dangerous surf, jellyfish and sharks
More here .... http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2017 ... ion=healthThe last boogie-board has been jostled into the boot, you've stocked up on sunblock and, whether you call them togs, bathers, cossies or swimmers, there's a pair for every day of the week tucked into the beach bag.
But before you dash down the sand and plunge into those foam-topped waves, ask yourself: Do I know how to spot a rip or treat a jellyfish sting? How worried should I be about sharks? And is being dumped by a gnarly wave simply an Australian rite of passage or a danger that should be taken a bit more seriously?
In the past year, 116 people have drowned on Australia's coastline, according to Surf Life Saving Australia.
Many more had non-fatal drowning incidents that have lifelong health complications, and more still suffered spinal, head and other injuries in the surf.
So refresh your beach safety knowledge, starting with coastal scientist Associate Professor Rob Brander's advice to approach a swim the way you would when preparing to cross a busy road.
"You don't cross the road without looking both ways; you don't go to the beach without spending five minutes looking at it."
And remember, this is no substitute to swimming on a patrolled beach between the red and yellow flags.
Rip currents
Rips scatter Bondi Beach in Sydney
Calm looking, dark water shows the Bondi beach rip known as Backpackers Express against the rocks, while another rip can be seen further up the beach.
(Supplied: Rob Brander)
One of the things that make rip currents, known as rips, so insidious is that they can look like the safest place to swim.
A rip is the path the water being pushed onto the shore by the waves takes to run back into the ocean, so they often appear as dark, relatively calm channels between the white breaking waves.
But these dark channels actually indicate fast-moving currents moving out to sea.
They're dangerous because people can become exhausted trying to swim against the current back to shore, or they can push inexperienced swimmers out into deep waters where they can't stand up.
According to Surf Life Saving Australia, most Australians don't know how to spot a rip, and two out of three people who think they can get it wrong.
"There's a big disconnect where we need people to stop overestimating their ability," Surf Life Saving Australia coastal safety manager Shane Daw said.
"Things can go wrong and they can go wrong very quickly."
Signs of a rip can include:
Deeper, darker coloured water
Fewer breaking waves
A rippled surface surrounded by smooth water
Anything floating out to sea, or foamy, sandy water out beyond the waves.
Associate Professor Brander stresses the importance of staying calm if you do find yourself caught in a rip.
