Safety at the sea or inland

The National Sea Rescue Institute ( NSRI ) has some safety tips for the holidays and encourages you to have a safety plan in place before you need it. Prevent panic by having a plan.

Make sure that key people in your group know who to call in an emergency and that all family members know what to do if something goes wrong.

Programme cellphones with the relevant emergency numbers before you need them. The general emergency number 112 from your cellphone is a good one to save. It goes to your service provider control room and will be routed to the emergency service that you require.

When at the sea, watch out for rip-currents. A rip current looks like a river of water flowing fast out to sea against the incoming waves. If you are caught in a rip-current you'll be swept out to sea faster than you're able to swim towards the shore. Don't panic or try to swim against the current. As tough as this sounds, let the current take you out to sea. Raise one arm in the air and wave to alert people on the shore that you're in trouble.

Ensuring your survival when the odds, or the weather, unexpectedly turn against you, begins well before you leave home. It is wise to make sure well in advance that you know how to use safety equipment ( if you are on a boat).

Children should have responsible adult supervision around water at all times (including a bath, bucket and swimming pool). Children should never be left alone near any water.

Andrew Ingram, NSRI Drowning Prevention Manager, suggests the following as part of our safety plan for this summer season:

Choose to swim at a beach that has lifeguards on duty and swim between their flags

Avoid beaches with rip currents.

If you see someone in difficulty in the water, don't try and rescue them.

Throw the person something that floats and call 112 from your cellphone for help.

The next biggest danger is alcohol. Please don't drink and swim.