Coastal Safety

It’s great to spend a day out at the coast or seaside. Whether you like cliff walks, boating or just soaking up the sunshine on a beach, there’s something for everyone.

But sea and coastal conditions can change fast and you can get into trouble before you know it. To help you enjoy the coast safely, make sure you check weather and tides before you set out, wear appropriate clothing and footwear and be aware of the risks.

HM Coastguard is the emergency service which provides search and rescue at the coast and at sea. When someone’s in trouble, we send out helicopters, lifeboats and coastguard rescue teams. We coordinate this from our 12 control rooms around the UK coast. So if you spot someone in danger call 999 and ask for the coastguard.

We’re part of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, which regulates maritime and safety standards as well as saving lives at sea.

For further information and guidance please visit our GOV.UK pages or contact the Coastguard.

For schools and educational groups we also have activity booklets containing important safety information available at GOV.UK Seaside Safety.

Sand Play

Don’t dig large holes or tunnels in the sand. Small sandcastles and holes are fine, but never dig anything deeper than waist height, as the sand can collapse and crush or suffocate you.

Don’t wander too far along the shore, especially if beach exits are limited. You could become cut off by the tide, so remember to check what the tide is doing. If your stroll takes you around a headland or rocks, you can easily be cut off if the tide comes in when you aren’t expecting it.

Inflatables

Blow-up lilos and toys are great fun in the swimming pool, but they’re best avoided at the seaside. They can easily drift out to sea and you may not notice until you’re a long way from shore and out of your depth.

If you do find yourself being swept out to sea, stay with your inflatable and shout for help, waving your arms if possible. Don’t attempt to swim for shore if you are out of your depth.

Rip Currents

Rip currents are difficult to spot and even the most experienced swimmers can be caught out, so do ask lifeguards for advice. They will show you how you can identify and avoid rips.

The best way to avoid rips is to choose a lifeguarded beach – you can find a list on The Good Beach Guide website – and always swim between the red and yellow flags, which show where is safer to swim. This also helps you to be spotted more easily, should something go wrong.

If you do find yourself caught in a rip:

• don’t try to swim against it or you’ll get exhausted
• if you can stand, wade don’t swim
• if you can’t stand, swim parallel to the shore until free of the rip and then head for shore
• raise your hand and shout for help.

You can find more information on rip currents on the RNLI website.

Cliff Dangers

Cliffs are often much more unstable than they look. When you walk, sunbathe or picnic beneath cliffs, loose shingle or large rocks can be dislodged and come crashing down. So stay away from them. A good rule of thumb is that you should keep at least the height of the cliff away, so that if the cliff is 25 metres high, you should not go closer than 25 metres to it.

Don’t be tempted to explore recent cliff falls. And pay attention to any signs telling you not to climb cliffs – they are there for a reason.

On the Rocks

Rocky coastlines are great fun to explore, especially if there are rock-pools where you can study marine life. But remember that rocks are very unforgiving if you slip and fall or you are caught by an incoming tide.Wet rocks are very slippery and if you fall, you could be badly hurt and unable to get back to shore. Rocky coastlines are often lonely and there may not be anyone around to hear you shout for help if you get stuck.

• Don’t be tempted to investigate cliff caves. The cliff face may be unstable and dangerous, or the tide may come in and cut you off.
• Always know what the tide is doing and if it is coming in, watch it closely and give yourself plenty of time to get back to shore. Rocks are extremely treacherous in fast-moving water.

On the Cliff Top

At the top of a cliff, the views can be spectacular but also dangerous. Don’t become a victim of ‘selfie culture’ – many people get themselves into trouble when trying to take a dramatic photo of themselves on a dangerous cliff edge.

The cliffs along the UK coastline are continually eroding. It’s impossible to predict when the next bit might go – and it could be a few small rocks or several thousand tonnes.

Some basic tips to remember:

• stay well back from the edge
• keep an eye on children and dogs to make sure they do the same
• make sure you are properly equipped for walking along coastal paths
• wear sturdy shoes or boots
• obey any warning signs and don’t climb fences to get to the edge of the cliff
• don’t attempt to climb up or down cliffs unless you are properly equipped and trained to do so
• don’t attempt to climb cliffs as a short cut back to the top
• be responsible and don’t take unnecessary risks or let other people in your group do so.

Dog Walking

Dogs love adventure and they can easily get into trouble at the coast. They can slip down cliffs and steep places while exploring and they can’t always make their way up again. If they do, don’t try to rescue them – they often come back safe and well on their own but you might not.

• Always keep your dog on a lead near cliffs.
• Don’t try to rescue a dog if it is being swept out to sea. You’re likely to get into difficulty yourself.
• If your dog gets into trouble, call 999 for the Coastguard.

Mud and Quicksand

Getting stuck in mud and quicksand is a favourite plotline in films and books, but it can really happen, especially in wide, flat estuaries and bays. Never try to cross a bay – the ground can look firm and safe, but be incredibly treacherous.

Walking over (and through) mud is difficult and tiring and there can be hidden channels of fast-flowing water. You can get trapped in the mud, which is frightening at the best of times but potentially fatal if the tide comes in. If you get stuck in mud or quicksand:

• try to spread your weight as evenly as possible across the surface
• avoid moving and stay as calm as you can
• discourage other people from attempting to rescue you, since without the proper equipment they could become stuck too
• if you have a mobile phone, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. If you don’t, shout for help.

Watersports

• Whatever your sport, make sure you get trained first. For almost all watersports, you also need to be a competent swimmer.
• Make sure someone at home knows what you’re doing, especially your points of arrival and departure, planned timings and who else is in your group.
• Keep an eye on the weather and tides and don’t brave the sea in conditions which are beyond your capabilities. If in doubt, don’t go out.
• Wear a buoyancy aid and check that all your equipment is functioning properly.
• If you’re driving an open powerboat, make sure it’s fitted with a kill cord and kill switch and that you use them correctly.
•  If you go scuba diving, familiarise yourself with new or different gear before planning deep dives and always dive within your limits. Never dive alone.
  You can also find advice on the RNLI, RYA and the Met Office Websites.

Keeping in Touch At Sea

Whatever your watersport, think comms. You need to carry a communications device to suit your activity, so you can call for help if you get into trouble. Examples might include:

• a charged mobile phone in a plastic bag. If you get into trouble, you can call 999 for the Coastguard even if you have no credit left. But remember that mobile coverage is not always reliable at the coast.
• in more remote locations, carry a 406 Personal Locator Beacon
• a VHF marine band radio (fitted with DSC if possible) and learn how to use it. You can call the Coastguard on channel 16 on your radio.

For advice on which devices suit your activity speak to the Coastguard or your sports national governing body.

Useful Links
• Maritime and Coastguard Agency
• HM Coastguard
• Emergency SMS
• HM Coastguard Facebook
• MCA Twitter feed
• MCA blog
• BBC Weather and Tides
• Royal National Lifeboat Institution
• Royal Life-Saving Society
• Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
• Swim England
• Good Beach Guide
• Royal Yachting Association
• Met Office