Surf Safety

Posted: December 9th, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Sports | Tags: , | No Comments »

Surf Safety

Who doesn’t enjoy a fun filled day at the beach? To make sure you have fun and the day sends as great as it started make sure you understand how to stay safe while in the water. This is extremely important and
most people don’t really even think about it. Understanding and respecting the power of the ocean and the best ways to enjoy it, you will avoid accidents and even learn how to save others around you if necessary.

Here are some quick tips on preparing yourself for time at the beach:
Wear sunscreen with SPF of 45 or higher and apply several times.
Wear those sun glasses which are polorized.
As often as possible wear a hat.
Stay hydrated.
Whenever you have eaten anything do not go for swiming for atleast a half an hour.
Do not drink bear.
Keep covered up in the water. Always wear smart clothing.

Now get ready to dive in? realize you enviornment.
Avoid beaches that don’t have lifeguards on duty.
Swiming at night is not recommended as it can be life threating due to the unpredictable conditions.
Do not swim away from those areas other than makred with red yellow signs, which indicates these are the safest places for swimming.
Always swim with friends or at least under supervision by a lifeguard or friend on the beach.
When you see you are in a fix, just control your nerves. All you need is to lift your arm and float, in a current position. Yell if necessary.
Only surf in areas where surfing is permitted.
If you feel you do not have information about surfing conditions, when you decide to jump into the water, ask any one of the lifeguards deputed at the beach.

Child Safety:
Take the following precautions with your children at the beach and avoid unhappy moments.
There are safety signs placed all along the beach, you should know the meanings of all these.
Dress them in brightly colored clothing. It becomes easier to find them when they get astray.
Try to keep them close to you at all times.
Do not try to expose it to the water it can be harmful because it is too cold. It can lead to hypothermic condition, which means abnormally low body temperature..
If they do not know how to swim, have them wear water floaties.
have them wear water shoes that will save from getting cut down their feets by hitting shells and so many other hazardous things.
Spread them over with leather under sunscreen.

Understanding Surf Conditions:

Identifying Rips:
A rip is an extremely strong current that starts at the beach shoreline and reaches through the surf and out to the ocean. They are extremely dangerous and the biggest causes of most accidents and rescues at the beach. They are very powerful and can drag a swimmer out to the danger zone in minutes.

Whenever you stuck up in a rip do not be affraid, even the intensity of problem is too high. Move along with the current and wave and ask for assistance for the lifeguards if felt necessary. If you are a strong swimmer, try swimming along the beach line away from the rip until you can safely get back to shore. If you are surfing, keep yourself on surfboard unless help do not arrive.

Exploring the Surf:
Before jumping in, pick out a landmark of some kind so that you can easily see for the water to gage where you are in the water and keep you centered and from floating or swimming too far away.

Don’t fight waves. Make sure you dive below them. This will give you enough time to reach to the bottom and let them pass obove you. If possible, fix your fingers into the stand inorder to help hold you steady when wave passes above you. In deep enough water, you can push off by bringing your knees up under you and springing up out of the water and ready for your next dive.

Your time spent at the beach can be spectacular. Keeps it that way by being aware of your surroundings, respecting the surf, following the rules, and keeping an eye out on each other.

Today Zak Surfboards has over 400 surfboards on display, ranging from Malibu’s, Mini-Mals, Hybrids, Eggs, Fishes, Performance Shortboards and Retro Single-Fins.We enthusiastically favour local shaper and are proud to provide a central place for excellent Victorian-produced surfboards, exclusively prepared for Victorian surf conditions.

Zak Surfboards is Melbourne’s Number One Super-Dealer with Global Surf Industries

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