10 million people in the UK and Ireland have been cut off by the tide says the RNLI
They're encouraging people to know the dangers and be prepared around water as the weather warms up.
New research reveals gaps in tidal knowledge that's led to 15% of British and Irish residents – 10 million people – in danger of being cut off by the tide.
As families head to the coast to enjoy the Easter school break, the RNLI has revealed the results of a survey with Bangor University which shows large gaps in tidal knowledge.
The findings of the nationwide research revealed that around 15% of respondents report being cut off by the tide, or nearly cut off, in their lifetime, which equates to 10 million people in the UK and Ireland.
They also found that many of these people didn’t intend to be in or near the water.
The RNLI says this gap in coastal safety knowledge is especially worrying as high spring tides will occur across the country during the Easter break when beaches are busy.
More findings
One of the key findings of the survey was the level of surprise about the speed of the incoming tide. Around 60% of those who had experienced tidal cut off were shocked at the speed at which they had become stranded.
The research also showed that four in ten people have no basic understanding of the tides and only half claim to check tide times before visiting a beach.
It further reveals that only a quarter (24%) of the public have sufficient ability to read and interpret a tide timetable in order to take the appropriate action to prevent being cut off by the tide.
RNLI rescue data shows that lifeboat crews and lifeguards responded to 7,971 incidents involving people cut off by the tide over the last decade. Of those incidents, many were considered life-threatening, and 452 lives were saved.
"Respect the Water"
We spoke to South East representative for the RNLI Gabbi Batchelor who gave us some adice on how to stay safe.
She told us to "respect the water, think about their own safety and know what to do in an emergency."
When visiting the coast, always remember:
- Check the tide times. If you don’t understand them, please check local advice
- Choose a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags
- If you get into trouble in the water, Float to Live; tilt your head back with ears submerged and try to relax and control your breathing. Use your hands to help you stay afloat and then call for help or swim to safety if you can. It's OK if your legs sink, we all float differently
- Always stay with someone
- Make sure someone knows how long you're going to go for so that you take those safety precautions ahead of time and that will help you should you get into trouble in the water.
- In a coastal emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
Gabbie told us, they're also encouraging people to do a little bit of research before heading out and make sure you they have the right equipment.
"If you're going to go in the water and go for a swim, consider taking a toe float or a bright coloured swim hat.
"If you're going to go on a paddle board, for example, consider taking your phone in a waterproof foam pouch. That will help you should you need to use it to call the emergency services.
"And always wear a buoyancy aid if you're going to go paddle boarding, kayaking on a canoe. and Please remember that the RNLI does recommend against the use of inflatables because you can get caught out in offshore winds and drift very far out to sea."
More safety information can be found on wither the RNLI or Coastguards website.