COASTGUARD URGE PARENTS TO BE MORE AWARE OF INFLATABLES
SSILB would like to make sure that the following message is passed onto the general public and would also like to agree with the MCA statement in 'urge the general public to use common sense while enjoying our coast'.
Keep Safe - Stay Safe
Thank You
At sea call the Coastguard on Channel 16 or Dial 999 if on land and ask for the coastguard.
Local Coastguard would like the following message passed on:
Every year Coastguards and lifeboat crews 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 and within 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 drowning(s) 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 don't want to sound like nanny; just have a good time at the beach and go
home in one piece!
Further information on how to have a safe day at the beach can be found at:
http://www.mcga.gov.uk/seasmart
Safety Warning
This may look FUN.......
It may look SAFE........
BUT IT CAN KILL!
Inflatable toys like dinghy's, lilos and other blow up toys can be dangerous when used at the seaside or on inshore waters.
Never use in strong winds.
Always wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid.
Always make sure a safety line is fasten to the shore.
Don't forget you can be easily blown out to sea or beyond your depth by a slight breeze.
At sea call the Coastguard on Channel 16 or Dial 999 if on land and ask for the coastguard.
