Besides pollution, which is the main topic of our interest here at the Surfrider Foundation all across the country and with special emphasis on our Georgia Chapter, there are plenty of other perils and threats that are endangering our health whenever we go to the beach. Rip currents and shorebreaks are just a couple of them, and these next few lines will present to you some more.
Killer Rip Currents
And this is not just a figure of speech, in fact, rip currents are known to account for over 80 percent of the total number of rescues performed by lifeguards you can find on the beach. These currents are so powerful that they are capable of easily pulling swimmers out to sea from the shoreline. They go over the surf zone and also all the way over the breaking waves lines. Always opting for going swimming to a beach where there are lifeguards is one of the main protection practices you can embrace.
Who’s Afraid Of Lightening?
Did you know there more than 60 people get killed by the lightening on average every year? If you are at the beach and a lightning storm comes towards you, the safest place to be in is a large enclosed building. Look at the large hotels on the beach. Stay away from picnic shelters and other types of shelters you can find lying on the beach and pick a car or a truck as your next best option– basically anything that has a top on. It is also advisable to wait for at least half an hour before the last thunder crack is heard so you can safely return to the beach. If your patience is on the down side, you can keep yourself busy with your smartphone – play some flash games or buy some lottery tickets for the upcoming MegaMillions or PowerBall games of the week on sites like LotteryMaster and other similar ones. This particular site sells tickets for all the major lotteries on the planet, including major European lotteries such as the Spanish La Primitiva or the Italian SuperEnaLotto.
Shorebreaks Cannot Be Predicted
And they are just as dangerous as they are hard to foresee. They cause the waves to break directly on the shores and they can trigger neck and spinal injuries to even the most experienced swimmers and surfers. Asking the lifeguards on the beach about the situation of the shorebreaks there is one precaution measure you could take.