BCM warning on beach safety
BEACH safety is an important part of the holidays, and vacationers have been warned to be vigilant along the shoreline in Buffalo City Metro.
Whenmany people prepare to visit the beach, having fun and enjoying being at the ocean are their priorities, and some forget to keep themselves safe.
Buffalo City Metro spokesman Thandy Matebese has called on all parents to look after their children while at the beach.
“Children must not swim unsupervised by adults. Parents or adults accompanying children must always keep them in their sight,” he said.
“Those swimming must swim where there is a lot of clear water as this pushes towards the shore and doesn’t pull one out to sea.
“Swimmers must also avoid swimming near rocks or piers.”
Matebese offered a few tips for beachgoers:
Do not swim after consuming alcohol;
Do not swim in clothing other than swimwear as this dragged one underwater; Swim between the flags; Swim where lifeguards are on duty and obey their instructions; Never swim alone; and Do not litter. An obvious safety precaution would be to take good care of one’s skin. Michelle Goddard of Cansa said skin cancer remained one of the most common cancers.
“It is so important to know the dangers of exposure to the sun, and also how to reduce the risk of skin cancer, which is the result of skin cell damage that begins in the top layer of the skin,” she said.
“It is especially important to protect children – just two blistering burns before the age of 18 can dramatically increase the chance of getting skin cancer later in life.”
In a press release, Goddard said it was a popular misconception that only fairskinned people needed to be concerned about overexposure to the sun.
She said anyone could develop skin cancer, regardless of race, age or sex. People with fair skin had a higher chance of getting skin cancer, while dark-skinned people were still at risk.
“Darker skin has more protective melanin pigment, and the incidence of skin cancer is lower in dark-skinned people,” she said.
“Skin cancers do occur in dark-skinned people and are often detected at a later, more dangerous stage. It’s the summer holiday and the schools have closed – time to relax, but not to let down your guard completely.”
Beachgoers have been warned to:
Avoid direct sunlight between 10am and 3pm;
Stay in the shade or under an umbrella as much as possible;
Wear clothing that protests you from the sun: wide-brimmed hats, UV protective clothes or swimsuits;
Wear sunglasses with a UV protection rating of a minimum of UV400;
Apply sunscreen regularly (SPF of 20-50); and
Avoid sunbeds and sunlamps. — siyab@dispatch. co.za
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