RNLI urge swimmers on South Coast to stay alert
It comes as hundreds are expected to flock to the beaches this Bank Holiday weekend
The RNLI is urging people across the South Coast to stay alert when heading to the coast this Bank Holiday weekend.
It's as hundreds are expected to flock to our beaches.
Guy Addington's regional water safety lead in the South-East.
He said: "A trip out to the coast is great, but we're really keen to urge people to take the time to understand a bit about some of the hazards and risks associated with the coastal environment and how some of the environmental factors, things like tide, weather, wind, things like that might, what sort of impact they might have on one's planned trip out to the seaside.
"If you're thinking about a trip to the coast, we would really urge people to try to make sure that they go to a lifeguarded beach, a beach with lifeguards.
"And once there, take the advice from the lifeguards and aim to swim between those red and yellow flags.
"Now the lifeguards will have a look at the conditions, have a look at the beach, and they will flag the area that they think is the safest, the most suitable for bathing."
He told us the RNLI's advice if you get into trouble.
He said: "The advice is simple.
"If you find yourself in water, particularly unexpectedly, and particularly water that's really cold, instead of succumbing to that natural instinct, which is to sort of thrash around panic and try and swim hard, instead our advice is to remember, float to live.
"Float on the back, push the back of the head and the ears into the water, and that promotes a chest or a face airway up position.
"And your cold shock and panic response will pass in just a couple of minutes.
"And that buys you valuable time to think about your next move, which might be to swim for safety or it might be to shout for help.
"So remember, float to live.
"And if you're at the coast and you see someone in difficulty or indeed you yourself are in difficulty, don't hesitate to call 999 and ask for the Coast Guard."