As the summer sun beckons, the allure of unpatrolled beaches can be tempting, but it's crucial to understand the risks before taking the plunge. While the 'swim between the flags' mantra has proven effective in safeguarding beachgoers on patrolled shores, last summer saw a concerning spike in drownings, with 54 fatalities in just 90 days—each occurring in unpatrolled locations, 78% of which were on beaches.

Professor Rob Brander, also known as Dr. Rip, a surf scientist from UNSW Sydney, sheds light on the reasons people choose unpatrolled beaches and emphasises the need for practical safety advice. While advocating against swimming at such locations, he acknowledges the reality that many accessible and popular beaches lack patrols, prompting the need for a more nuanced approach to safety.

The Surf Life Saving Association's Think Line Campaign, endorsed by Prof. Brander, offers a valuable starting point. Additionally, emergency response beacons (ERBs) are being deployed at beaches in NSW, enabling direct communication with Surf Life Saving NSW State Operations Centre during emergencies.

To enhance safety awareness, Prof. Brander proposes a set of questions for consideration:

Are there flags or lifeguards?

Are there signs indicating beach closure or no lifeguard on duty?

What are the surf conditions—do the waves exceed your capability?

Are you alone, and is the beach sparsely populated?

Are there flotation devices nearby?

Do you have mobile reception?

Is an Emergency Response Beacon present?

Are you a strong swimmer?

Do you know how to identify a rip current?

Prof. Brander emphasises that thoughtful answers to these questions can provide valuable insights into the potential risks of swimming at unpatrolled beaches. However, he issues a firm warning for a specific scenario—being alone on an unpatrolled beach, particularly if you lack surfing or ocean swimming experience.

"If you're alone on the beach, and there's no one around, and you're not a surfer or an experienced ocean swimmer, and you think it might be OK to go in the water – don't! If you get stuck in a rip, there's no one going to be able to save you. So if in doubt, don't go out."

The article also provides detailed guidance on how to identify different types of rip currents—channelised rips, boundary rips, and flash rips—underscoring the importance of avoiding rocky areas, headlands, and structures for safety.

In case one gets caught in a rip, Prof. Brander advises:

Relax and avoid panic.

Don't swim against the rip; instead, float to conserve energy.

Signal for help by raising your arm or calling out.

If alone, stay calm, float, and consider swimming along the beach to reach breaking waves.

He concludes with essential advice for bystander rescues - urging people not to rush in impulsively but to assess the situation, call for help, and use flotation devices if available.

As Prof. Brander emphasises, "It really does come down to ‘If in doubt, don’t go out.’"

Kiama Council’s summer lifeguards and local volunteer lifesavers will be on duty seven-days a week at our seven patrolled beaches:

Jones Beach

Bombo (North) Beach

Surf Beach

Kendalls Beach

Easts Beach

Werri Beach

Seven Mile Beach 

The seven-day-a-week patrols will continue until Sunday 28 January.

Our lifeguards and lifesavers put in more than 400 patrol days each season so we can enjoy our beautiful beaches in safety.

No matter your swimming skills and experience, the same rule applies to everyone: no flags means no swimming.