Guide to saving your life at the beach: It looks safe, but you can be killed if you are not careful!

According to Indonesian media reports on November 8, a 34-year-old Chinese man died in Bali. Rescuers found the man's body around 9 am. He, his wife and his friend were washed away by the waves while swimming the previous afternoon - possibly encountering a "rip current."

Silent Killer: Rip Currents

Wave after wave of seawater hits the beach. How does it return to the sea? It relies on rip currents.

Rip currents, also known as rip currents, are microscopic currents that flow from the shore to the open sea. Although these currents are not long, they are very fast, with a flow rate of more than 2 meters per second, and each current lasts for two to three minutes or even longer.

According to statistics, about 90% of drownings at the seaside are caused by rip currents, and hundreds of people die from rip current drownings at home and abroad every year.

Rip Currents | UNSW

Although the width of the rip current is usually only a few meters, and the depth is usually around the waist of an adult, the flow rate is extremely fast, up to 3 meters per second, while the average person swimming in a calm swimming pool can only swim one or two meters per second. Under the guidance of a strong rip current, an unwary person can be carried into the sea.

To stay away from danger, you must recognize it. When playing at the beach, stay away from currents that look different from the surrounding environment, especially currents of different colors. Because rip currents have a higher sand content, their color may be different from the surrounding water. Sometimes rip currents have more foam and look more turbulent; sometimes they are like a quiet gap in the waves, and the water looks quite calm.

Rip currents come in all shapes and sizes, some calm and some turbulent | Stephen Leatherman

There is another misunderstanding that is worth noting. Many people think that places with small waves are safe. However, on beaches with rip currents, places with weak wave breaking are more dangerous because the rip currents are the strongest there. On the other hand, places with strong wave breaking have stronger currents toward the coast. Even if you are accidentally knocked down, the currents tend to push you toward the shore.

If you feel a strong current in shallow water, leave immediately. As long as the water is not up to your waist, you can still get to shore safely by moving steadily step by step or by turning sideways to walk out of the current.

However, if a rip current occurs and the water is up to your chest, it will be difficult to fight the current. You should stay calm and call for help immediately if you are not a good swimmer.

To deal with rip currents, the National Weather Service (NWS) said that swimmers should not try to struggle against them, but should first drift along with the rip current. When they drift to a certain distance, the rip current will merge into the sea and dissipate, and then they can swim back from the side.

The rip current will not pull you to the bottom of the sea. It is better to float on the water than to fight against the current and maintain a certain level of physical strength.

Finally, the most important thing is to read the notice board at the beach. If you want to go into the water, check the sea conditions with the lifeguard first, look for the rip current warning sign, try not to go into the sea alone, and swim within the sight of the lifeguard.

Be careful about jellyfish, sunlight, and lightning

Drowning is the number one risk when playing at the beach, but there are many more visible and invisible dangers, such as harmful creatures, sunlight, and lightning. Be sure to follow beach rules when playing, and be aware of these problems that you won't encounter in a swimming pool:

Without shoes, you might step on something scary.

Walking barefoot on fine sand is comfortable, but whether in the sea or on the beach, the soles of your feet may be injured by marine creatures or sharp stones.

It is painful to step on a sea urchin with bare feet. The sting may also cause toxic reactions such as difficulty breathing and shock, and cause lasting damage to joints and nerves. Stepping on corals may also cause poisoning and allergic reactions, and dermatitis may occur after a few hours to a few weeks. It is recommended to rinse the wound immediately after discovery, soak it in hot water (40℃~45℃) and seek medical attention in time.

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Sometimes you don't see anything, and only when you get ashore do you find your skin is red and painful. That may be because you have touched the transparent tentacles of a jellyfish. All jellyfish can sting, and the venom of some of them can harm humans. Stings not only cause electric shock-like stinging, but can also cause heart failure, acute pulmonary edema, and liver and kidney damage, with a mortality rate of about 0.1% to 0.3%. After being stung, it is recommended to rinse repeatedly with sea water (fresh water increases toxin release and aggravates symptoms), and use cards to remove tentacles from the skin, soak the stung area in hot water for 20 minutes, and seek medical attention in time.

Human playgrounds are also gathering places for pathogens

There are pathogens that can harm humans in the seawater and sand, so don't give them a chance to invade when you are playing. Pathogens such as Vibrio vulnificus can enter the human body through tiny wounds, including puncture wounds on the soles of the feet caused by not wearing shoes, as well as abrasions, scratches, new ear piercings and new tattoos, and cause muscle necrosis, sepsis and amputation. If you have unhealed wounds on your body, you should avoid direct contact with seawater. If you are cut at the beach, it is recommended to squeeze out the seawater and blood in the wound, disinfect the wound, and go to the hospital for further treatment if the wound is serious.

Even if there are no wounds, the skin can be contaminated with viruses, bacteria and parasites in the sea water and sand. Washing hands in time when leaving the beach and before eating and drinking can reduce the risk of gastroenteritis caused by them.

A man who had a tattoo contracted Vibrio vulnificus in seawater, went into shock and died | References [8]

Lie on the beach, be careful not to fall asleep

The sand and seawater at the beach reflect ultraviolet rays, so even on cloudy days, your skin may get sunburned. People who are afraid of getting tanned will take the initiative to use umbrellas, hats and sun-protective clothing to block the sun, and reapply sunscreen in time. However, people who enjoy the sun may ignore sun protection or accidentally fall asleep in the sun, causing sunburn, aging skin spots, and an increased risk of skin cancer.

In addition, prolonged exposure to the sun also brings the risk of dehydration and heat stroke. When the weather is hot, it is recommended to reduce strenuous exercise, stay in the shade, drink more water, and drink less alcoholic beverages.

Thunder and lightning? Pack up and get out of the way!

The beach can also be a dangerous place on a sunny day, especially when dark clouds gather. If you notice that it may rain or hear thunder, it is recommended to pack up and leave the beach as soon as possible, and go into a large building or stay in a hard-top vehicle. Do not stay on the sea or beach without shelter, under a parasol or awning to avoid being struck by lightning. Wait 30 minutes after the thunder stops before returning to the beach.

It’s wonderful to feel the sea breeze and walk on the beach, but the sea also has a ruthless side. When going out for fun, safety comes first!

References

[1] General Office of the National Health Commission. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of common animal injuries (2021 edition). 2021.

[2] Can a Caterpillar Really Cause a Skin Rash?

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/caterpillar-rash/

[3] Puss Moth Caterpillar Stings

https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-kr/home/injuries-and-poisoning/bites-and-stings/puss-moth-caterpillar-stings

[4] MenkinSmith LP, Marchetti MA, Krywko DM. Delayed Dermatitis Following Injury Caused by Coral. J Emerg Med. 2017;53(5):e111-e113.

[5] https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/hazards/beach-dangers/

[6] https://www.healthline.com/health/beach-safety

[7] https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_23704181

[8] Hendren N, Sukumar S, Glazer CS. Vibrio vulnificus septic shock due to a contaminated tattoo. BMJ Case Rep. 2017 May 27;2017:bcr2017220199. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2017-220199. PMID: 28551603; PMCID: PMC5614220.

[9] What is a rip current? https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ripcurrent.html

[10] People’s Daily Online: How terrible are rip currents? Professor Fan Daidu of our school was interviewed: The 17 people falling into the water on the Zhangzhou beach may be closely related to rip currents. (2021). Retrieved from https://mlab.tongji.edu.cn/f5/97/c10097a193943/page.htm

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