A day at the beach
The sea, lakes and rivers can be great places to have fun in the water, but they also hold a lot of dangers. Water can be colder, for example, and make you tired more quickly. And as Jasmine finds out below, currents can drag you away from safety. And in real life there may not be a lifeguard around the corner.
So, you get a text from one of your friends: "r u gna beach?" Of course you are going to the beach! It’s hot, your MP3 player is packed with the latest downloads and you want to show everyone how good you look in your new swimwear.
When you arrive your friends are already in the sea. Some are throwing a frisbee near the shore, while others are busy diving through the waves. But where is Jasmine, your best friend? She was the one who texted you, after all.
You shout out. "She was here a minute ago," says Billy as he dodges a frisbee. Everyone suddenly looks worried. They start shouting her name. There is no response. You start to scramble to the top of a sand dune for a better view of the sea.
In the distance you can just make out a waving arm before it falls below the surface again. You dial 999 and ask for the lifeguard. Luckily there is one the next beach down and Jasmine is saved before she drowns.
Because you knew what to do, your best friend didn't become one of the 450-500 people who drown in the UK every year. Of course, this is only a story. But ask yourself: If your real best friend were drowning, would you know what to do?
The sea, lakes and rivers can be great places to have fun in the water, but they also hold a lot of dangers. Water can be colder, for example, and make you tired more quickly. And as Jasmine found, currents can drag you away from safety. And in real life there may not be a lifeguard around the corner.
But despite the dangers you can still enjoy the water. Just be prepared and sensible. To learn more about spotting the danger signs, general safety advice, and for information on how to train as a lifeguard, click on the links below.
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