By Beth Hardie
There’s nothing better than hitting the beach when the sun comes out to play and getting the kids out of the house for some fresh air, a paddle and a cooling ice cream. While days at the coast can be full of wholesome fun, they can also be fraught with panic for parents. Spots popular with tourists and locals alike can become extremely busy both on the shore and in the water. Coupled with most children’s inbuilt desire to escape and run or swim free, the risk of losing sight of one of your little (or big) ones is a real possibility. However there are simple things you can do to help your chances of spotting your child or of them being found more quickly. Director of WetWetWet swim school in Brighton, Briony Jacobs, knows only too well how easy it is to get into trouble in the water and is passionate about keeping families safe in and around water. She has shared her top tips for making sure you’re doing all you can to keep your kids out of harm’s way at the beach. She says one of the first things you should do is to take a picture of your child when you head out. “Snap a photo of your child in the clothes they’re wearing when you arrive. If they get lost, you’ll have an up-to-date image to help identify them quickly,” she advises. It’s also important to make clever choices when it comes to their swimwear as this could mean they are spotted much more quickly if they get lost in the sea. “Opt for bright, contrasting colours like orange, green, pink, or red. These colours are far easier to spot in the water than blues or greys,” Briony says. Last year double Olympic gold medallist, Rebecca Adlington , joined On the Beach’s campaign which urged the government to ban the sale of this particular coloured swimwear, which is favoured by many retailers. The travel experts’ research found that two thirds of children wear potentially dangerous blue, white or grey swimwear and a worrying 90% of parents were not aware that certain colours cannot be seen underwater. If a child was submerged in the sea or at the bottom of a pool wearing these colours, they are much more difficult to spot and therefore at risk of drowning. Ensure you are prepared before you head out to the seaside by checking the weather and tides: “Plan ahead,” urges Briony. “Tides and changing weather conditions can quickly turn a fun day out into a risky one.” It’s also really important to understand the rules at the beach and what the different coloured flags mean. A red and yellow flag indicates a lifeguarded is present. A red flag is a dangerous area that is not patrolled and a black and white flag signals a water sports area. Briony advises: “Look out for beaches patrolled by lifeguards and always swim between the red and yellow flags.” Although on a scorching day it’s tempting to strip off and run straight into the inviting waves, caution should always be used because cold water shock can be really dangerous. If the body is suddenly submerged in water below 15°C it can lead to rapid breathing, involuntary gasping and increased heart and blood pressure all of which can reduce the ability to swim. “Even in summer, the sea is cold,” Briony warns. “Enter water gradually to allow your body to adjust and control your breathing.” If you fall into water you should fight the instinct to swim and float first while you regain control. Should the worst happen and someone does get into trouble in the water, you shouldn’t attempt to be the hero and jump in to rescue them yourself unless you’re trained in water rescue. Instead call for a lifeguard, throw a flotation aid, or call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. The Water Safety Code of “Stop & Think. Stay Together. Call 999 in an emergency. Float to Live” should always be followed and it’s a good idea to teach your children this too. Above all it’s so important to remember that swimming lessons save lives. “Learning to swim is more than just a skill — it’s life-saving,” Briony says. “Build water confidence and vital survival skills for children and adults alike.” For more water safety advice and resources, check out the Royal Life Saving Societ’s website , the RNLI website , or WetWetWet ‘s social media pages.