Beach and Ocean Safety
The ocean environment provides a variety of recreational opportunities for the visiting public, but it can prove to be as dangerous as it is fun and exciting. A little ocean knowledge can help reduce this danger, insuring a fun and safe beach experience. Below is a brief discussion of the hazards one is most likely to encounter on the beaches in Solana Beach, including tips on how to stay safe and avoid becoming a victim.
RIP CURRENTS:
Rip currents are the primary source of distress in over 80% of all rescues made at surf beaches nationwide. Rip currents have an almost mechanical ability to tire swimmers to the point of fatigue, and, ultimately, death. A rip current is a current which runs from shallow water out to sea. As waves break, they push water up onto the shore. When the accumulation of water is sufficient, a current starts to flow seaward along the path of least resistance, such as along a channel in the ocean bottom or next to a reef. An inexperienced ocean swimmer may become caught in the current and pulled out to deep water. This danger is compounded by the fact that to the inexperienced swimmer a rip current area often appears to be the safest area for swimming. Because the water is deeper in a rip current area, incoming waves appear smaller and less forceful than they do in other areas of the same beach. As a result, many swimmers will mistakenly identify a rip current area as the most calm and safest area of the beach.
While rip currents are a serious ocean hazard, following a few simple rules can help insure that you do not fall victim to them. First, SWIM ONLY WHEN A LIFEGUARD IS PRESENT AND IN THE DESIGNATED SWIMMING AREA. In Solana Beach, the designated safe swimming area is marked by two black and white checkered flags which are posted on the beach. Lifeguards are trained to assess ocean conditions and recognize potential rip current areas. Designated swimming areas are set up to keep inexperienced swimmers away from these dangerous areas and insure that swimmers do their swimming in the safest area of the ocean. Swimming in the designated swimming area will dramatically reduce your chances of being caught in a rip; however, even in the safe swimming area flash rip currents and feeder currents which pull swimmers out of the swimming area and into rip current areas can pose a danger to swimmers. To help reduce this danger, remember to always swim where you can comfortably touch bottom at all times and to frequently check your position in the water to make sure that you have not drifted out of the safe swimming area. In addition, never swim in clothing such as T-shirts or long pants; such items make it extremely difficult to swim if you get caught in a rip current.
Should you get caught in a rip current remember first and foremost to stay calm. Drownings which occur in rip currents are usually the result of swimmers panicking and tiring themselves out by trying to swim to shore against the current. DO NOT TRY TO SWIM AGAINST THE CURRENT. Stay calm and swim parallel to the beach until you are out of the rip current and then swim in to shore. If you are on a guarded beach, give the international distress signal of waving your hands above your head and a lifeguard will respond to help you return to the beach. Remember, rip currents do pose a serious danger to ocean swimmers, but following these few simply guidelines will decrease this danger and insure that your next visit to the beach is safe and enjoyable.
Falling bluffs are a natural occurrence within the aquatic environment and a product of high surf, fragile sandstone, and erosion. Bluff failures are not only a summer time occurrence, but a year-round hazard. Although public awareness and education help prevent failure related accidents, it is impossible to predict or prevent a failure. Lifeguards use a proactive approach and recommend that all beach patrons stay as far away from the bluffs as possible, especially from actively failing areas.
Here are a few bluff-safety related guidelines to follow while spending time at the beach:
- For your safety, enjoy Solana Beach in the cove areas and away from all bluffs, caves, and over hangs.
- If you see a failure of any kind, notify a lifeguard or dial 911.Surf, wind, tides, and other forces all contribute to bluff erosion and failures.
- You can help yourself and others stay safe! Pay attention to signs, listen to lifeguards, and be aware of the active erosion process of the bluffs.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of ocean swimming is the surf. Unfortunately, the surf can be as deadly as it is exciting. Large surf poses a serious safety hazard to even the strongest of swimmers. When a large wave breaks, it moves literally thousands of gallons of water towards shore. In addition to the dangerous rip currents associated with this water movement, inexperienced swimmers can be forced underwater for extended periods of time or picked up and thrown into the ocean bottom by large surf. To protect yourself from the hazards presented by large surf, always check with the lifeguard to see what the surf conditions are like before entering the water, wear swim fins whenever possible to improve propulsion through the water, and never swim in clothing such as T-shirts or long pants.
BODY-BOARDING:
Body-boarding is one of the most popular water activities on the beaches of Solana Beach. Unfortunately, however, the largest number of rescues made by lifeguards also involve body-boards. Many swimmers feel an added measure of security when on a body-board and, as a result, venture out when conditions are beyond their level of ability. ALWAYS WEAR FINS AND A LEASH WHEN BODY-BOARDING. Never swim with a body-board in water in which you would not feel comfortable without out one. Never body-board in clothing such as T-shirts or long pants. And, if you are not wearing fins, never venture out into water deeper than where you can comfortably touch.
SURFING:
There is always an inherent risk involved in surfing, but there are a few things which surfers can do to minimize this risk. First, be aware that the greatest number of surfing related injuries involve encounters between surfers and surfboards. Most surfboards are manufactured with extremely sharp noses and fins which can easily lacerate or penetrate the human body. Your surfboard can be a deadly weapon. Be aware of where you are in the water and keep a safe distance from other surfers to avoid collision. Novice surfers should avoid crowded areas and become familiar with surfing etiquette before entering water at a popular surfing area.
All surfers should be aware of the many underwater hazards which present a danger to surfers. Underwater hazards such as reefs and rocks pose a serious threat to the safety of surfers. If you are not familiar with a particular break, check with the lifeguards to find out about the bottom conditions. Also, all surfers should be aware of the danger presented by lobster traps. A lobster trap is a large metal cage which sits on the bottom of the ocean and is marked by a buoy which floats on the surface and is attached to the trap by a long chord. It is illegal to place lobster traps in any area of aquatic activity; however, during large surf it is common for lobster traps to drift into the surfline. Lobster traps pose a serious safety hazard to surfers who can get tangled up in the chord which connects the trap to its marking buoy. Do not surf in areas where lobster traps have become trapped in the sand. Notify the lifeguards any time that you see a lobster trap buoy in the surfline.
SHALLOW WATER DIVING:
Many underwater hazards are hidden on the ocean bottom. Reefs, rock, and in-shore holes make the bottom irregular and dynamic, and water depth varies greatly from point to point. Each year many persons are injured by jumping or diving into water that they thought was deep but which turned out to be extremely shallow. Serious injuries, such as damage to the spine or neck, can result from such a mistake. NEVER DIVE WHEN ENTERING THE WATER. Always enter the water slowly and carefully, paying close attention to bottom conditions.
IN-SHORE HOLES:
An in-shore hole is an area of the ocean bottom close to shore which is deeper than the surrounding area. Caused by the natural movement of sand by wave activity, in-shore holes usually range in size from 3 to 20 feet in diameter and from 1 to 10 feet in depth. An important characteristic of in-shore holes is that they occur randomly and move frequently. In-shore holes pose a serious threat for beachgoers, especially young children, who can easily fall into them and suddenly find themselves in water over their heads. To help protect yourself from in-shore holes, avoid running or diving into the water. Watch your step as you enter the water and be aware of where you are on the beach. Parents of small children should always enter the water with their children and survey the bottom themselves, keeping their children in shallow water.
STINGRAYS:
Stingrays are not aggressive animals and are easily frightened. Unfortunately, they often bury themselves in the sand in shallow water for protection from predators. This is when they are most hazardous. If accidentally stepped on by a hapless wader, stingrays flip their tail, which has a barb at the end, up towards the wader. If the barb comes into contact with a foot, ankle, or other part of the body, the barb can penetrate the skin and venom enters the wound. The sting of the stingray is very painful and usually requires immediate medical attention both to alleviate the pain and to clean the wound to prevent infection. If you are stung by a stingray, seek help from a lifeguard immediately. If you are on an unguarded beach, soak the affected area in hot water until the pain subsides and then seek medical attention. Stingrays are common along the beaches of Solana Beach. Luckily, there are a few simple things that you can do to insure that you don't get stung by one. First, always swim in the designated swimming area. Stingrays usually stay clear of areas where there is a lot of swimming activity. Second, shuffle your feet when walking in the water. As mentioned earlier, stingrays are a very non-aggressive animal and only sting when they are stepped on. By shuffling your feet, you can insure that you never step down on a ray, dramatically decreasing your chances of getting stung. Lastly, always watch where you step when entering the ocean. Follow these rules, and you probably won't get stung.
JELLYFISH:
Jellyfish are actually not a single fish, but a colony of small animals called hydroids which appear to be a single animal. Most Jellyfish are free swimming, colorless, and range in size from a few inches to three feet in diameter. Their appearance on the beaches of Solana Beach is seasonal and infrequent, and only a few persons are stung by jellyfish on Solana Beach beaches each year. A person gets stung by a jellyfish when they come in contact with the jellyfish's tentacles, which are used by the jellyfish to immobilize and catch prey. The sting of the jellyfish is much like that of a bee or a wasp. It is painful but in most cases is not medically serious. (Persons with known allergies should be monitored for signs of allergic reaction.) If you are stung by a jellyfish, seek help from the lifeguards who will be able to help reduce the pain of the sting, but stay calm and remember that a jellyfish sting is usually not a serious medical condition.
SEA MAMMALS:
Two varieties of sea mammal which are common to the waters off of Solana Beach are Bottle-nose Dolphins and Sea Lions. Dolphins usually swim off-shore and do not present a hazard to swimmers. Sea Lions, however, like to swim in the surf-line where they are easily accessible to the beach population. Sea Lions are non-aggressive and do not usually attack swimmers; but, because many beachgoers associate all with those which are trained to perform in shows and interact with the public, they sometimes approach sea lions in the water with disastrous consequences. Remember, the sea lions in the ocean off of Solana Beach are wild animals and if they feel threatened they will attack. Therefore, if you see a sea lion please admire it from afar and do not try to approach it.
Occasionally sea lions, dolphin and other sea mammals will make their way up onto the beach. Citizens who see a beached sea lion or dolphin often think that the animal has become "confused" and just needs a little help to find its way back out sea. Such help almost inevitably proves to be harmful to the animal. Sea mammals only come to shore under rare circumstances, such as while mating or when sick or injured. If you come across a beached mammal, do not try to drive it back out to sea. Keep your distance from the animal and notify the Lifeguards immediately.
SHARKS:
Sharks are rare in the ocean off of Solana Beach. The first shark attack in Solana Beach in fifty years occured in April 2008, which was believed to have been a great white shark. Prior to that, there had been only two shark sightings in these waters within the past 30 years, both of which were blue sharks who were injured and making their way into shallow water to die.
SUNBURN:
Sunburn is the most common and most ignored of all beach hazards. Sunburns can range from minor redness of the skin to serious burns resulting in severe pain and blistering of the skin. Even the most minor burn, however, can result in damage to the skin causing accelerated aging and enhancing the potential for contracting skin cancer. Sunburn is a serious health hazard, and beachgoers should never go to the beach without applying liberal amounts of sunscreen to all exposed areas of skin. For a detailed explanation of the daily sun exposure risk and recommended preventative action for that day call the Solana Beach Surf and Weather Report at 858-755-2971 before coming to the beach.
HEAT RELATED EMERGENCIES:
A heat related emergency is an emergency medical situation brought on by over-exposure to the heat of the sun. Such emergencies include conditions such as Dehydration, Heat Exhaustion, and Heat Stroke. Heat related emergencies present a serious danger to the victim. Happily, these emergencies are amongst the easiest to prevent. Most heat related emergencies are brought on by a combination of severe dehydration and higher than normal activity levels. Prolonged exposure to the heat of the sun causes the body to loose water at a much faster rate than it does under normal conditions. This loss of water must be compensated for by increased levels of fluid consumption. (Note: The consumption of alcoholic beverages contributes to, rather than serving as a corrective for, dehydration.) Remembering to drink a lot of fluids and not to overdue your level of activity will help insure that you do not suffer from a heat related emergency.
EXPOSED REEF:
All beach visitors should be aware that at a low tide there are many areas of exposed reef along the beaches of Solana Beach. These exposed reefs pose a serious hazard to persons walking in bare feet. Reefs are sharp and can result in lacerations. To avoid this danger, do not walk on reefs with bare feet.
HIGH TIDES:
Tides can also pose a serious threat to beachgoers. On numerous occasions, beachgoers have left to go on a long walk only to find that the passage back to their starting point has been blocked by the incoming tide. High tides often rise all the way to the bluffs cutting walkers off from beach accesses and trapping them in dangerous locations. As a precautionary measure, always check beach tides before setting-off on a long walk. If you are not sure of tidal conditions, ask a Lifeguard.
