Posted by Charna Manson on 4th Jan 2017
Well it’s my first blog of 2017 and after all that Christmas turkey I suspect a number of you have taken your Exotic Waterwear stinger suits for a swim, surf, SUP, scuba dive, snorkel or some such activity. Good on Ya!
Previously I’ve written about the protection our suits give against those dreaded skin cancer causing UV rays and jelly fish stings whilst at the beach however there is one hazard the suit can’t do a lot for; rip currents.
According to Matt Thompson, from Surf Life Saving Australia, “rips are the biggest killer in Australian waters with one person drowning every 2 to 3 days in summer and 90% of these fatalities are rip-related”.
With 17,000 rips happening around Australia at any given time I thought it would be timely to highlight their dangers. To make it easier to spot them, here are a few hints:
Here’s a link on rips that is really quite good so if you are unfamiliar with how to spot them, what to do if caught, or possibly just as a refresher, it’s well worth a few minutes of your time. https://beachsafe.org.au/surf-safety/ripcurrents.
This video is really well done, please watch it and maybe save your, or someone else’s, life!
If and when you head to the beach for a swim, the best advice is to stay between the flags if on a patrolled beach. The experts have checked the water for the safest place and are watching for those who may need help.
If you head to an unpatrolled beach, know what you’re doing.
Neil, who always thinks outside the square (dangerously so sometimes!), just gave me a suggestion for a stinger suit that’s fluro; glow in the dark with GPS and jet propulsion!