Whether you’re there for a day or a week, going to the beach is a great way to take advantage of the beautiful summertime weather with your family and friends. However, danger can lurk both in the waves and on shore if you don’t take action to avoid common safety hazards at the beach. To keep yourself and those you love out of harm’s way while enjoying seaside fun in the sun this summer, be sure to follow these beach safety guidelines from our Bucks County drowning accident attorney:
- Familiarize yourself with beach warning flag meanings and act accordingly – Those colorful flags you see on the beach aren’t put there for decoration; they’re designed to alert swimmers to the current water conditions. Typically, the presence of two red flags means a beach is closed to the public due to dangerous conditions, while a single red flag indicates that there are strong currents which may make swimming risky. Purple or blue flags generally are flown when potentially dangerous aquatic animals such as jellyfish may be in the area. Yellow flags usually signal that the water is a bit choppy, meaning swimmers should use caution. Calm waters are marked by green flags; however, even when you see this color, you shouldn’t let your guard down, as ocean waters can turn rough suddenly.
- Be aware of the weather – As you probably already know, large bodies of water like the ocean attract lightning, so the beach is a particularly dangerous place to be during a storm. With this in mind, you should always check the weather forecast before heading to the shore. And if the sky begins to look stormy while you’re there, seek shelter immediately and wait at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before returning to the sand.
- Never swim when lifeguards are off duty – This one may seem like a no-brainer, but our drowning accident attorney in Bucks County feels it’s worth a reminder. After all, according to data from the International Life Saving Federation (ILSF), the majority of drowning accidents occur when a lifeguard isn’t around. Considering this statistic, we highly recommend limiting your swimming to times when a lifeguard is actively supervising the area.
- Stick together – Whether you’re in the water or on land, you should always stay with at least one other person while at the beach. Furthermore, be sure to keep a charged cell phone nearby in an easily accessible location, such as the front pocket of your beach bag. These smart practices will ensure that if a compromising situation arises, someone will notice and be able to call for help right away.
Despite how fun a day at the beach can be, things can turn highly dangerous in an instant if you don’t take the necessary precautions. That’s why it’s crucial to put these tips from our Bucks County drowning accident lawyer into practice whenever you’re at the ocean.
For Drowning & Near-Drowning Cases, Trust the Heslin Law Firm
Unfortunately, even when following the aforementioned safety rules, beachgoers can still be involved in accidents. And when someone gets injured or worse during a trip to the shore, it can be difficult to tell who should be held accountable for the incident. For example, in the event of a drowning or near-drowning, it may initially seem as if the accident couldn’t have been prevented; however, a closer investigation into the situation may reveal that the lifeguards are liable in some way.
Tough cases like this call for the assistance of a drowning accident attorney Bucks County residents can depend on. With more than 30 years of experience defending the rights of accident victims and their families, Mr. Gary Heslin is a highly qualified source for legal representation.
If you’d like to find out more about what makes Mr. Heslin a trustworthy Bucks County drowning accident attorney or discuss your case in a free consultation with him, call our office at (215) 332-0300. And for useful tips on avoiding dog bite injuries this summer, read our recent blog post. We wish you a fun and accident-free summer, but just in case things don’t turn out as planned, we’ll be here to offer the compassionate, skilled legal guidance you deserve.