1. Take safety advice
   1. Choose a swimming pool or beach where lifeguards are on duty.
   2. Read and obey the signs.
   3. Listen to the LIFEGUARDS and follow their advice.
   4. Find out when and where it is safe to swim.
   5. Look for signs or flags telling you where it is safe to swim.
   6. Never swim where a sign or flag says not to.

2. Spot the dangers
   1. Don't swim or surf directly after a meal.
   2. Don't swim or surf under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
   3. Know your physical and mental limits.
   4. Never run or dive into unknown water. Even if you have checked before, conditions can change.
   5. If you get into trouble in the water, don't panic. Raise your arm for help, float and wait for assistance.

3. SLIP-SLAP-SLOP Sun Safety
   1. SLIP on a tee shirt and other clothes on land and in the water
   2. SLAP on a hat
   3. SLOP on some sun cream

4. Keep children safe
   1. Ensure that whenever children are near water, they always take extra care.
   2. Keep warm and safety equipment where necessary.
   3. Always make sure you know where your children are going, who they are with and when they will be back.
   4. Never let children go swimming, fishing or boating on their own.
   5. If your child goes alone, there will be nobody to help if they get in trouble in the water.
   6. Ensure they go with a friend. Even if they can't help out, they can go and get help.
   7. Children should never fool around or run beside water - they might trip and fall in.
   8. Advise children to take care on the riverbank - it can be slippery or crumble.
   9. Encourage children to keep away from the edge of canals - the water is often very deep.
   10. Beware of locks and weirs - the water flows very quickly.

5. If you see someone in trouble in the water, here's how you can help.
   
   1. Keep calm and think before you act.
   2. Try to get help - shout "help, help" as loud as you can.
   3. Reach out with a stick, a pole, a towel or clothing to pull the person to the edge of the water, lie down and hold onto something to make sure you don't get pulled in.
   4. If you can't reach the person and no-one comes when you shout for help, find the nearest telephone and ring 999 or 112 (911 in USA).
   5. Never jump into the water yourself.

1. Always swim or surf under supervision or with a friend.
2. If you are unsure of surf conditions, ask the lifeguards.
3. Don't swim when the Red flag is flying.
4. Swim between the Red over Yellow flags. Bodyboarders belong there too.
5. Surfers should stay between the black and white flags.
6. Bodyboarders should stay with their board and not go out too far.
7. Don't take inflatables into the sea, you could be carried away by wind and tide.
8. If you get cought in a current or undertow, stay calm. Don't try to swim against it, swim across it at right angle. Signal for help.

Waves

Waves are caused by wind blowing over the surface of the ocean. The longer, stronger and further it blows, the bigger the waves will be. There are three kinds of waves:

1. Shore Dump
   Where waves break with force and usually occur where beach is relatively steep. It can be dangerous to surf in these waves. They are a common cause of broken limbs and back injuries, take care!

2. Spilling Waves
   The crest of a spilling wave tumbles down the face. If the sandbank where it breaks is shallow, the spilling crest will form a 'tube'. These are the best waves for body surfing.

3. Surging Waves
   These never break, because the water beneath them is deep, but they can knock people off their feet and drag them back out.

Rip Currents

A rip is a strong current running out to sea. Rips are the cause of most rescues performed at beaches. A rip usually occurs when a channel forms between the shore and a sandbar, and large waves have built up water which then returns to sea, causing a drag effect. The larger the surf, the stronger the rip. Rips are dangerous as they can carry a weak or tired swimmer out into deep water.

The following features will alert you to the presence of a rip:


1. Darker colour, indicating deeper water.

2. Murky brown water caused by sand stirred up off the bottom.

3. Smoother surface with much smaller waves, alongside white water (broken waves).

4. Waves breaking further out to sea on both sides of the rip.

5. Debris floating out to sea.

6. A rippled look, when the water around is generally calm.

What to do if you get caught in a rip?

1. Don't Panic - stay calm.

2. Float with the current, don't fight it.

3. Swim parallel to the shore for about 30 - 40m until you reach the breaking wave zone, then swim back to shore or signal for help.

4. Remember to stay calm and conserve your energy.