High tides and good vibes – enjoying a beach day safely

Key points

• Beach days are a vital part of summer for many people, but there are some safety tips to keep in mind for people with disability
• Sun safety, water safety, staying hydrated and accessibility are all important
• Remembering your own safety will allow you to enjoy every beach day to the fullest

But there are some safety measures you should keep in mind to make sure you can have fun for as long as possible on your beach day.

Sun safety

Despite the enjoyment of a warm sunny day, direct sunlight can be dangerous. And being in the water doesn’t save you from the UV rays either, as the glare of the sun reflects up at you off the water.

Remember to slip, slop, slap, seek and slide when at the beach to keep your skin protected.

This means slipping on protective clothing, slopping on water-resistant sunscreen – reapplying every two hours, slapping on a broad-brimmed hat, seeking the shade – bring your own umbrella, and sliding on those UV protective sunglasses.

Following the sun protection rules will mean you can enjoy the beach for longer.

Water safety

Australian beaches have rips that are difficult to detect and will pull you out to sea quickly, endangering your life, so you need to be a strong swimmer if you are going into the water.

Make sure someone else is always in the water with you in case of emergency. Plus, it is a lot more fun spending time in the water with a friend, carer or family member!

You may also need to wear a medical bracelet or waterproof identification that will tell a first responder about you, in case of an emergency in the water where you don’t have personal items like your phone.

It can be important to go to a beach that has lifeguards available and to swim between the red safety flags.

These beaches are also more likely to be accessible to people who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices, because it is often surf lifesaving clubs that set up accessible tracks on the beaches or offer all-terrain wheelchairs and trikes to borrow, to make it easier for people with disability to get onto the sand and in the water.

Inclusive beaches with tracks and beach wheelchairs – as well as accessible parking, changing places and showers – can be found on the Accessible Beaches Australia website.

Hydration and temperature

On the beach you need even more water than normal to prevent dehydration and keep your body functioning as it should.

Keep your fluid intake up and understand the impact any medications you are taking may have on the amount of water you need to drink.

It can help to have cool water in an esky or similar insulation to cool down the temperature of your body as well and avoid heat stroke.

You can read more about staying hydrated in our article, ‘Hydration and the dangers of dehydration’, or read about staying cool in our article, ‘Some like it hot…but what if you don’t?’.

How do you stay safe at the beach? Share your tips in the comments below.

Related content
Safe post COVID-19 pandemic activities
Summer holiday activities for kids with disability
A parent’s guide to getting through summer holidays with your child with disability