Beach SafetyBeach Safety

• Dangers and common injuriesDangers and common injuries

• Prevention and first aidPrevention and first aid

Dangers and Common Dangers and Common InjuriesInjuries• SunSun

– Danger: excessive exposure to sunDanger: excessive exposure to sun– Injury: sun burn and skin cancerInjury: sun burn and skin cancer

•11stst degree burn: redness, swelling degree burn: redness, swelling•22ndnd degree burn: redness, blisters degree burn: redness, blisters

– Prevention: wear water-proof sunscreen, Prevention: wear water-proof sunscreen, white clothing, hat, glasses, use shade, white clothing, hat, glasses, use shade, and limit exposureand limit exposure

– Treatment: Treatment: •11stst degree: cool water, loose dressing (if degree: cool water, loose dressing (if

desired)desired)•22ndnd degree: no water, loose dressing degree: no water, loose dressing•Cancer: remove skinCancer: remove skin

Skin CancerSkin Cancer

Dangers and Common Dangers and Common InjuriesInjuries

• Cold waterCold water– Danger: excessive exposure to cold waterDanger: excessive exposure to cold water– Injury: hypothermia Injury: hypothermia

• Often starts with denial of problemOften starts with denial of problem

• Cold, shiveringCold, shivering

• Uncontrolled shivering, incoherent speech, skin Uncontrolled shivering, incoherent speech, skin swells or turns blueswells or turns blue

• Unconsciousness when core temp reaches about 87Unconsciousness when core temp reaches about 87˚ ˚ FF

– Prevention: wear appropriate wetsuit, boots, Prevention: wear appropriate wetsuit, boots, and limit exposureand limit exposure

– Treatment: Treatment: • Replace wetsuit with dry clothing and keep warm, out Replace wetsuit with dry clothing and keep warm, out

of windof wind

Dangers and Common Dangers and Common InjuriesInjuries

• Rip currentsRip currents– Danger: current pulling surfer out to seaDanger: current pulling surfer out to sea– Injury: drowning Injury: drowning – Prevention: Understand and avoid rip Prevention: Understand and avoid rip

currents. Rip currents are rivers that currents. Rip currents are rivers that carry wave water back to sea. carry wave water back to sea.

– Treatment: (solution)Treatment: (solution)•Swim parallel to the beach until you are out Swim parallel to the beach until you are out

of the current. Then swim to shore.of the current. Then swim to shore.

• If you are too tired to swim, wave to a If you are too tired to swim, wave to a lifeguard for help. About 80% of rescues lifeguard for help. About 80% of rescues involve rip currents.involve rip currents.

Dangers and Common Dangers and Common InjuriesInjuries

• SurfboardsSurfboards– Danger: surfboard hitting surferDanger: surfboard hitting surfer– Injury: bruises, lacerations from finsInjury: bruises, lacerations from fins– Prevention: Prevention:

•Use soft boardsUse soft boards• lower yourself to board when finishedlower yourself to board when finished•avoid surfing in crowdsavoid surfing in crowds•beware of pearling beware of pearling

– Treatment: Treatment: •Get out of the water to check for bleeding Get out of the water to check for bleeding

and to restand to rest•Get first aid for all cuts and do not return to Get first aid for all cuts and do not return to

waterwater

Dangers and Common Dangers and Common InjuriesInjuries

• Surfboard injury statisticsSurfboard injury statistics– Dr. Andrew Nathanson in “Surfing Dr. Andrew Nathanson in “Surfing

Injuries” in 1999 reports on 1348 surfing Injuries” in 1999 reports on 1348 surfing injuries:injuries:•1237 acute injuries1237 acute injuries

•477 chronic injuries477 chronic injuries

– Agent causing acute injuryAgent causing acute injury•55% resulted from own board55% resulted from own board

•17% resulted from sea floor17% resulted from sea floor

•12% resulted from other’s board12% resulted from other’s board

Dangers and Common Dangers and Common InjuriesInjuries

• Surfboard injury statisticsSurfboard injury statistics– Type of acute injuryType of acute injury

•42% lacerations (skin is cut)42% lacerations (skin is cut)•13% contusions (injury without breaking 13% contusions (injury without breaking

skin)skin)•12% sprains/strains12% sprains/strains•8% fractures8% fractures

– Location of injuryLocation of injury•37% head and neck 37% head and neck •13% trunk13% trunk•13% upper extremity13% upper extremity•13% lower extremity13% lower extremity•1% systemic 1% systemic

Dangers and Common Dangers and Common InjuriesInjuries• Surfboard injury statisticsSurfboard injury statistics

– Chronic injuries (overuse syndromes)Chronic injuries (overuse syndromes)•26% back strain26% back strain•18% shoulder strain18% shoulder strain•9% neck strain9% neck strain•9% knee strain9% knee strain•5% elbow strain5% elbow strain•3% rib inflammation3% rib inflammation•2% other2% other

– Chronic injuries (environmental exposure)Chronic injuries (environmental exposure)•14% exostosis of ear (surfer’s ear)14% exostosis of ear (surfer’s ear)•4% pterygium (growth on eye from sun)4% pterygium (growth on eye from sun)

Dangers and Common Dangers and Common InjuriesInjuries• Chronic injuries (infection)Chronic injuries (infection)

•7% otitis (ear infection)7% otitis (ear infection)•6% cellulitis (skin infection)6% cellulitis (skin infection)•2% sinusitis (sinus infection)2% sinusitis (sinus infection)•5% other5% other

• Surfers at higher risk for injurySurfers at higher risk for injury•Older surfersOlder surfers•Expert surfersExpert surfers•Big-wave surfersBig-wave surfers•Surfers who have been surfing for 20+ yearsSurfers who have been surfing for 20+ years

““Injury Rates in Sports” in the Injury Rates in Sports” in the Journal of Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and DancePhysical Education, Recreation, and Dance in in 2002 ranks number of injuries per 1,000 times 2002 ranks number of injuries per 1,000 times an athlete participates in these sports:an athlete participates in these sports:Boxing 5.2 Softball 2.2 Skateboarding 0.8

Snowboarding 3.8 Basketball 1.9 BMX 0.8

Football 3.8 Surfing 1.8 Running 0.6

Ice hockey 3.7 Wrestling 1.4 Inline skating 0.4

Skiing 3.0 Baseball 1.4 Paintball 0.2

Soccer 2.4 Mountain biking 1.2 Treadmill 0.1

Dangers and Common Dangers and Common InjuriesInjuries• BottomBottom

– Danger: shallow water, lack of visibilityDanger: shallow water, lack of visibility– Injury: spinal injury (paralysis), Injury: spinal injury (paralysis),

lacerations from rock bottomlacerations from rock bottom– Chris Chris McAleerMcAleer Story Story– Prevention: never dive into ocean, wear Prevention: never dive into ocean, wear

surfing bootssurfing boots– Treatment:Treatment:

•Lifeguard rescue, treatment, and Lifeguard rescue, treatment, and hospitalizationhospitalization

Dangers and Common Dangers and Common InjuriesInjuries

• Jellyfish, stingrays, and sharksJellyfish, stingrays, and sharks– Danger: aquatic animalDanger: aquatic animal– Injury: sting or biteInjury: sting or bite– Prevention: Prevention:

• Jellyfish: wear wetsuit or avoid areaJellyfish: wear wetsuit or avoid area•Stingray: shuffle feet while walking in waterStingray: shuffle feet while walking in water•Shark: never surf alone, by seals, without Shark: never surf alone, by seals, without

lifeguardlifeguard

– Treatment:Treatment:• Jellyfish: remove jellyfish (apply heat)Jellyfish: remove jellyfish (apply heat)•Stingray: apply hot waterStingray: apply hot water•Shark: lifeguard rescue, treatment, Shark: lifeguard rescue, treatment,

hospitalizationhospitalization

Dangers and Common Dangers and Common InjuriesInjuries

• Todd M. Zoltan in “Health Issues for Todd M. Zoltan in “Health Issues for Surfers” in American Family Physician Surfers” in American Family Physician states:states:– “ “Although shark attacks garner worldwide Although shark attacks garner worldwide

headlines, they are rare. In 2003, there headlines, they are rare. In 2003, there were 55 unprovoked shark attacks were 55 unprovoked shark attacks worldwide, which resulted in four deaths. worldwide, which resulted in four deaths. Of these, 39 attacks and one death Of these, 39 attacks and one death occurred in the United States, mostly in occurred in the United States, mostly in Florida. About one half of all unprovoked Florida. About one half of all unprovoked shark attacks worldwide involved surfers shark attacks worldwide involved surfers or windsurfers.”or windsurfers.”

Dangers and Common Dangers and Common InjuriesInjuries

• Drew Kampion in Drew Kampion in Stoked: A History Stoked: A History of Surf Cultureof Surf Culture: : – ““There have been about thirty-five There have been about thirty-five

shark attacks on surfers in California shark attacks on surfers in California since 1970 (and only one of them fatal, since 1970 (and only one of them fatal, at Asilomar near Monterey in 1981)”at Asilomar near Monterey in 1981)”

Sharks and SurfingSharks and Surfing

• Shark or dolphin?Shark or dolphin?

Dangers and Common Dangers and Common InjuriesInjuries

• Reducing risk of shark attack (Department Reducing risk of shark attack (Department of Fisheries, Australia): of Fisheries, Australia): – Swim between the flags at patrolled beaches. Swim between the flags at patrolled beaches. – Avoid time in/on the water around dusk and Avoid time in/on the water around dusk and

dawn – when most fish are feeding and sharks dawn – when most fish are feeding and sharks are likely to be active. are likely to be active.

– Avoid areas where there are large schools of Avoid areas where there are large schools of fish, or among seals and close to rookeries. fish, or among seals and close to rookeries.

– Avoid areas where animal, human, or fish waste Avoid areas where animal, human, or fish waste enter the water. enter the water.

– Avoid deep-water channels or drop-offs nearby. Avoid deep-water channels or drop-offs nearby. – Do not remain in the water with bleeding Do not remain in the water with bleeding

wounds. wounds. – If you see a shark, leave the water as quickly If you see a shark, leave the water as quickly

and calmly as possible. Avoid excessive and calmly as possible. Avoid excessive splashing or noise. splashing or noise.

Lifeguard SignsLifeguard Signs

• Flag ConditionsFlag Conditions– Green Flag:Green Flag: Mild ocean hazards with possibility  Mild ocean hazards with possibility

of occasional larger waves and rip currents of occasional larger waves and rip currents – Yellow Flag:Yellow Flag: Moderate ocean hazards with  Moderate ocean hazards with

frequent large waves and rip currents. Should frequent large waves and rip currents. Should be an experienced swimmer or surfer with be an experienced swimmer or surfer with proper equipment to enter into the surf zone proper equipment to enter into the surf zone 

– Red Flag:Red Flag: Extremely hazardous ocean  Extremely hazardous ocean conditions with large powerful waves and strong conditions with large powerful waves and strong rip currents. Only expert swimmers and surfers rip currents. Only expert swimmers and surfers with proper equipment should enter the waterwith proper equipment should enter the water

Lifeguard SignsLifeguard Signs

• Flag ConditionsFlag Conditions– Blackball Blackball (yellow flag with a black ball (yellow flag with a black ball

in the middle)in the middle):: No surfing. Lifeguards  No surfing. Lifeguards usually raise Blackball from noon to 5:00 usually raise Blackball from noon to 5:00 p.m. at popular beaches during the p.m. at popular beaches during the summer to protect swimmers, waders, summer to protect swimmers, waders, body-boarders, children, etc., from being body-boarders, children, etc., from being hit by hard boards with fins. hit by hard boards with fins. 

The EndThe End

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