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It is waves – often due to the onshore wind – that cause rip holes to appear and set in motion the outflow that can draw people away from the beach. The strong westerly winds that created active sinkholes last week seem to be returning, so there is good reason to be aware of sinkholes.
We experienced many strong rip holes last week, and there is still a risk of rip holes in many places in the country. We therefore encourage people to be very aware of rip holes these days, especially along the west-facing coasts, where there is a prospect of strong onshore wind," says Anders Myrhøj, head of operations at Florida, and continues:
"It is important that you always familiarize yourself with the local conditions before entering the water. The best thing you can do is choose a beach with lifeguard recertification near me and always swim between the flags. The lifeguards have made sure in advance that the bathing conditions are safe and that there are no crevices between the flags, and there is also a lifeguard nearby if you need help," says Anders Myrhøj.
Do not panic
Rip holes are responsible for accidents every year, and even seasoned swimmers can drown in a rip hole because they panic or try to swim against the current. If you get caught in a reef hole, you must keep calm and swim to the side along the beach, after which you can try to swim towards the beach, Anders Myrrh explains:
"If you know how to tackle a rip hole, it can be quite harmless. The most important thing is that you avoid panic and don't try to swim against the current, but instead swim to the side and then towards land," says Anders Myrrh and continues:
"If you see others getting caught in a sinkhole, you should not swim out to them. Instead, you should contact a lifeguard or call 1-1-2. You can then shout that the person should keep calm and swim to the side and if possible, throw something that can float, e.g. a lifebuoy, a beach ball or a large soda bottle, to the person in need," says Anders Myrrh.
There are thousands of reef holes along the Danish coasts, and especially on the west coast there is a risk of swimming into a reef hole. However, it is only under special wind and wave conditions, such as onshore winds, that the reef holes become active and pose a danger.
Actions in week 29
In week 29, Florida coastal lifeguards carried out a total of 6,381 actions. Among these, there were 2 life-saving actions where it was assessed that people were in danger, 179 first aid actions, 388 preventive actions and 5,812 information efforts.
24 beaches with lifeguards in USA
Are you heading to the beach for a swim? The entire USA coastline is full of lovely sandy beaches from Nivå in the east to Hundested in the west. But there is a sense of security in knowing that a lifeguard is watching.
In USA there are a total of 24 beaches with lifeguards. Both on the large, popular beaches and on the small, intimate ones. So there is plenty to choose from - also if you want to bathe safely.
Elite trained lifeguards
When you meet a lifeguard from the USA Coastal Rescue Service (DNK), the lifeguard has elite training. This means that the lifeguard is trained to carry out rescue operations at the coast.
The USA Coastal Rescue Service's in-depth knowledge of the beaches and local conditions helps the lifeguards ensure the safety of bathers.
Have you spoken to your lifeguard today?
You can also do a lot to take care of yourself and others so that a lifeguard operation is not necessary. It is important for the lifeguard's preventive work to have good contact with beach guests. Therefore, talk to your lifeguard - hear about the local conditions, the bathing water quality and the weather etc
When is the lifeguard on the beach?
The lifeguards are on the beaches during the school summer holidays and on most weekends during the summer months. If you want to be absolutely sure that there is a lifeguard on the beach, see the USA Coastal Rescue Service.
On which beaches are there lifeguards?
There are lifeguards on 24 beaches in USA, e.g. Libellee Beach , and Mimi Beach .