Coastguard on Inflatables on the Beach

LILO, RUBBER RING OR INFLATABLE CROCODILE – WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT TO FALL OFF

Yarmouth Coastguard have dealt with over 20 incidents today (30th July 2006) involving inflatables. Most of the incidents have been located off the East coast in areas popular with holidaymakers such as Mablethorpe; Skegness and Chapel St Leonards.

The incidents began at just about 11.00 this morning as people began to arrive on the beach and venture into the surf line with inflatable craft of all shapes and sizes.

Christina Martyn, Yarmouth Coastguard Watch Manager said as the end of the day watch approached:

Emergency calls have been received by us all afternoon from frantic parents and friends, and all saying the same thing: an inflatable carrying their nearest and dearest is heading off at a great rate from the beach towards the open sea.

Our Coastguard Rescue teams and lifeguards have been busy rounding up shaken and distressed families once our colleagues at the RNLI have brought their parent/child/brother or sister ashore. Inflatables with individuals clinging to them have been located up to ½ mile offshore, which is no doubt frightening to an adult on shore as well as to the child clinging on for dear life.

One of the causes has been the westerly wind, which has been blowing at force 4 to 5, which is roughly equivalent to a moderate breeze of about 13 to 20 miles an hour. Fortunately, the visibility is good today and that has helped us and our seaborne colleagues in the RNLI spotting the normally (and fortunately) brightly coloured dinghies, lilos, rubber rings and inflatable toys from the shore.

It is worth noting that when we say `offshore winds in weather reports it means winds blowing from the shore out to sea. Not a wind that is somehow over the horizon and of no concern to anyone!

Every year Coastguards are called out to hundreds of incidents involving inflatables, which can easily drift miles out to sea with just a light breeze. Even if the sea is calm, there can be a strong undercurrent which can result in people being swept out to sea in seconds.

Inflatables have no means of steering and can be punctured making them potentially lethal if not used properly.

One minute they can be in a few feet of water andwithin minutes a child can find themselves a long way out. The dangers of using inflatables in the sea cannot be over-emphasised. If the tide is going out and there is an offshore breeze you can very quickly be swept out to sea. We want people to enjoy themselves but we also want them to be able to return home at the end of the day.

HM Coastguard always advise Mums and Dads to always tie inflatables to the shore, to wear life jackets, check the weather and take care to plan when using them. Inflatables are dangerous for children to use alone, so retailers are being urged not to sell them to children unless they are accompanied by an adult. Remember – Kids on the beach – keep them in reach!

Tragically, children die in accidents on the coast during every summer season including drownings either from having been swept out to sea from rocks or the beach by freak waves or caught in strong currents or being cut off by the tide. Other incidents ending in tragedy involved jumping off high rocks, cliffs and piers and being buried by collapsing sand when digging on the beach.

We dont want to sound like nanny; just have a good time at the beach and go home in one piece!