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DISCOVER NORTHERN CALIFORNIA'S
BEACH SAFETY TIPS

!!WARNING: EXTREME DANGER!!

Your beach safety is important to me!

I hate to be a killjoy by starting out with warnings, but people drown off California beaches every year and it's because they didn't know about the danger, and they didn't know how to protect themselves.

So I'm going to give you some information about keeping it safe before we head for Northern California's wonderful but unpredictable beaches.

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BEACH SAFETY: THERE ARE BASICALLY TWO SOURCES OF DANGER

Dangerous Beach Sign Pacifica
(CC) Robert Nagy

First is the Rip Current - Often erroneously called a Riptide (they actually have nothing to do with tides). Rip Currents are sometimes referred to as Ocean Rivers because that's how they behave, like a river in the ocean.

If you get caught in a Rip Current, you'll be dragged along the current's course, may be unable to free yourself, and may ultimately drown.

Second is the Sneaker Wave - Freak Wave, Monster Wave, Extreme Wave - they're all names for the same thing. It's a much larger-than-usual wave that comes out of nowhere and catches people by surprise.

You may be standing waist-deep very near the shore, or climbing on rocks near the water's edge, or building a sand castle on the beach.

If one of these waves catches you by surprise, you'll be dragged out to sea, may be unable to reach the surface, and may ultimately drown.

But it doesn't have to be that way, if you and your family will simply follow the guidelines I've outlined in the next section.

BEACH SAFETY TIPS TO PROTECT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

ALWAYS Keep your children close to you!
ALWAYS Read and Heed posted signs. They are meant for you!

ALWAYS Check with the lifeguard about any dangerous areas nearby. (Presuming your beach has a lifeguard - many don't.)

ALWAYS Watch the ocean and the wave patterns for 15 or 20 minutes prior to approaching the beach, the ocean, or the rocks and tide pools.

ALWAYS Assume you are in danger!

ALWAYS Keep one eye on the ocean! If anything looks strange, move back quickly!

NEVER Turn your back to the ocean!

One final piece of advice if you should be swept out to sea:

Do not panic - keep your calm and keep your head

Do not fight it - roll or float in the direction of the current (it will ease up)

Once the current has eased - remain calm and swim or float-kick toward shore

And one final, final piece of advice expressed as a request:

Please, please - if there's a Tidal Wave Warning issued, DO NOT go down to the beach to watch the tidal wave! You'd be amazed how many people do just that!

WHEW - NOW THAT YOU'RE BEACH SAFETY IS ASSURED,
LET'S GO HAVE SOME FUN!

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