Heading to the beach to cool off? We get it – but there are reminders to be safe. Photo: Kim Treasure.
Increased lifeguard patrols are on the cards as south-east Australia swelters through a heatwave.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) says the hot conditions are expected to ease sometime over the weekend.
Those in southern NSW can expect extreme temperatures.
The BoM forecasts Batemans Bay as reaching 40 degrees on Friday (9 January) and Saturday.
Nearby Moruya is expected to hover just shy of that figure, while in Bega the mercury will spike to 41 on Friday.
Further north, the Illawarra region won’t escape the heat – Wollongong is expected to reach 40 degrees on Saturday, while Kiama is set to swelter through temperatures in the high 30s.
It’s prompted calls from Surf Life Saving NSW to be careful, after 10 people have drowned since the start of summer.
Most recently, two swimmers drowned in the Shoalhaven in a horror start to January.
“When the mercury hits the sort of levels we anticipate seeing over the coming days, we know that will bring hundreds of thousands of beachgoers to the coastline to cool off,” CEO Steve Pearce said.
“We strongly encourage those people, be it this week while our lifeguards are on duty or into the weekend when volunteers are on patrol, to visit a beach where they see the red and yellow flags flying.”
For their safety, beachgoers are asked to only swim at patrolled beaches (and during patrol hours).
Many patrols are prepared to extend their hours across the state, should it be determined there is a significant risk in packing down the flags at the end of the day.
“We have had an absolutely tragic week with seven coastal and ocean drownings across the state and 10 since the start of December,” Mr Pearce said.
Some Surf Life Saving branches, such as Sydney and the Far North Coast, will also have roving jet ski patrols.
If you run into trouble while in the water, experts recommend floating as you wait for help.
Bondi lifeguard Bruce Hopkins recommends using the FLOAT method (where people stop swimming, start floating to save energy and raise an arm to signal they need help).
“People who float conserve energy and, in most cases, survive,” he said.
“People who panic, struggle, and try to swim against the water can drown in less than 30 seconds.”
“If you’re in trouble, stop fighting the water and FLOAT.”
Surf Life Saving NSW calls on all beachgoers to take simple steps to help keep themselves safe:
- Always swim between the red and yellow patrol flags
- Read the safety signs for information about the beach and ask a lifesaver or lifeguard for safety information
- Swim with someone else so you can look out for each other and always supervise children around the water
- Never swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- If you need help in the water, stay calm and attract attention by raising one arm
- In an emergency, dial triple zero (000)
- For information about patrol times, weather and beach locations, visit the Beachsafe Website or download the app.
NSW Ambulance has released advice to help people safely endure heatwave conditions.
There are also a range of strategies people can use to keep cool at home (and to prepare their homes for the next run of hot days in the long term).
In an emergency, call triple zero.
