Beach Safety

Did you know??? 4 inches of water can lift a 5 ton log.
Stay clear of the large logs that roll in the surf and up onto the beach!

What to do If you see someone drowning
Rip Currents
Sneaker Waves
Tidepooling
Fishing Safely from the Rocks
Seals on the Beach
Too Much Sun
Hypothermia
Fins in the Ocean!
Tsunamis
Dogs Safety at the Beach
Bonfires at Muir Beach
Just for Kids!

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What to do if you see someone drowning

1. Call 9-1-1 immediately.
2. If the victim is within throwing distance, throw a floatable object to them. It can be a life jacket, kick board or even an empty gallon jug.
3. If the victim is within reaching distance, assist him by extending something long, such as a rope, pole, ring bowie or a tree branch.

If you must enter the water to assist someone, take a flotation device large enough to carry two adults safety, says Jeff Ellis and Associates (International Aquatic Safety & Risk management Consultants). Keep the device between you and the person in distress; even a child can put an adult at risk in deep water.
National Safety Council

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Rip Currents

Beach Safety Tips: rip currents, logs, tides,
www.oregon.gov/OPRD/PARKS/beach_tips.shtml

Why, when and where rip currents form, why they're dangerous. How to identify, avoid & survive rip current, rip current myths
National Weather Service
www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/overview.shtml

Rip Current Science
Coastal scientists have been investigating rip currents for more than 75 years. This research has been conducted through field observations and measurements, laboratory measurements and wave tank experiments, and computer and numerical modeling. The mechanics of rip current development are complex and involve interactions between waves and currents, waves and water levels, waves and the shape of the nearshore bottom (bathymetry), as well as wave-wave interaction.
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Read more: www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/science.shtml

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Sneaker Waves

A sneaker wave is an unexpectedly large wave, higher, stronger and reaching farther up the beach to levels far beyond where the normal waves reach. Beach goers, particularly children, can quickly be caught in the rip current and pulled out to deep water. If the person can not escape the current, he may drown. Sneaker waves can also toss around large driftwood logs that may fall on a person, injuring or even killing him.

Even though the ocean may appear calm, there is still the potential for sneaker waves. Larger waves, moving fast, pick up smaller waves and carry them toward the beach. Some people erroneously think that sneaker waves can be predicted, i.e., every fourth or fifth wave, but in truth they are unpredictable. They can occur at any time, day or night, during incoming and outgoing tides, during storms and during sunny calm weather.

How to avoid sneaker waves

Never turn your back on the surf
Stay at least thirty yards away from the water on beaches facing the open ocean. Watch out for sneaker waves. Sneaker waves are often preceded by a lower than sudden lowering of the water level. Supervise children at all times.

Avoid slippery rocks
Rock outcrops can be slippery from mist, rain, or spray. Large waves can knock people off rock outcrops and severely injure them or knock them unconscious. Stay away from rocky areas, particularly during storms, high tide, or tidal changes.

Avoid logs and debris
Sneaker waves are strong enough to take the biggest log and toss it on you. Stay away from logs in surf or wet sand. Do not sit or stand on logs. Keep children away from logs and large debris.
National Park Service (Point Reyes National Seashore)
Read more: www.nps.gov/pore/visit_beaches.htm

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Tidepooling

California boasts over 1,100 miles of coastline and with it, some of the world's richest tidal life. Cold, nutrient-rich waters and rocky shorelines provide the perfect habitat for hundreds of species of plants, from microscopic diatoms to huge seaweeds. The plants in turn, support a multitude of wildlife normally hidden beneath the waves. At first glance, the wave-swept rocks may seem void of life, but the rocky pools exposed only at the lowest tides contain a rich stew of plants and animals plastered so thickly together that very little of the rocks show. An amazing feat considering the harshness of this wave-battered environment.
California Department of Fish & Game
Read more: www.dfg.ca.gov/watchable/tidepools.html

More tips for enjoying tidepools
http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/projects/rocky/ettiquette.html

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Fishing Safely from the Rocks

Rock fishing on the west coast is an exhilarating way to catch a meal. Sadly, a large number of people have drowned doing just this and the following safety tips may save your life on the rocks.

Rock fishing safety tips

• Learn how to swim for your survival.
• Check the swell, weather and tide forecast.
• Ensure you have warm clothing, even if it is fine as weather can change quickly.
• Wear lace-up shoes - never wear gumboots.
• Wear a buoyancy aid such as an inflatable lifejacket.
• Tell someone where you are going and when you will return. Take a cellphone where possible.
• Fish with experienced people and never fish alone.
• Always ask the advice of lifeguards and locals before going fishing.
• Do not fish under the influence of drugs or alcohol at any time.
• Follow the advice of safety signs.
• Don’t trust existing ropes or cables attached to the rocks.
• Watch the ocean and waves for 10 minutes before moving onto a rock platform.
• Never turn your back on the ocean. Be prepared to quickly climb to safety.
• Have an escape route for large waves and an incoming tide.
• Maintain a safe distance from the water especially when there is swell.
• Avoid surf spray or wet rocks that have been swept by spray.
• If a fish or equipment is swept into a dangerous area or the ocean, leave it there

If in doubt about the conditions or your own ability find a safer location.

There is almost always a swell with set waves. Set waves are groups of larger waves that arrive less frequently than others. Most people swept of rocks are taken by set waves.

Surf Lifesaving, Northern Region New Zealand
http://www.lifesaving.org.nz/education/fishing_safety.php

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Seals on the Beach

The beach is blessed with wonderful wildlife including baby seals. These newborn pups are placed up on the shore by their mothers, who then return to the sea to feed, sometimes for several days, before returning. If a seal pup is moved or touched by humans its mother will not take it back and the baby is left to die. It is a federal offense to touch or annoy seals. Please do not touch them. If the seal appears in distress notify WildCare in San Rafael at 415-456-SAVE (7283).

What is a Harbor Seal haul-out?

Harbor seals use specific shoreline areas on a regular basis to haul-out of the water and rest. These resting areas are called seal haul-outs and include: beaches, rocky areas, log booms and floats. Some haul-outs are used regularly, while others may be used seasonally or occasionally. Time spent on the haul-out is essential for their survival as they rest, dry out, interact and regulate body their temperature. In addition to resting, Harbor seals give birth to and nurse their pups on the haul-out, and undergo an annual molt of their pelage or fur.

Viewing Seals Responsibly In the Wild

• If you see a seal on the beach, give it room
  
• Use binoculars or a spotting scope if you want to see the animal "close up".
  
• The NMFS marine mammal viewing guidelines mandate a minimum approach distance of 100 yards.
  
• The approach distance will reduce the potential for disturbing or stressing a resting or injured animal.
  
• Keep pets away. Baby seals can easily fall prey to dogs.
  
• To avoid possible injury to seals, dogs should be leashed and kept away from seals on the beach. Some diseases are common to both dogs and seals.
  
• Older seals may bite in self defense.
  
• People may also be at risk if they come into direct contact with a diseased animal.
  
• It is a Federal offense to harass seals in any way.

Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife: WildWatch Cams
Read more and watch the SealCam: http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildwatch/sealcam/index.html

You Found an Ill, Injured or Orphaned Animal—Now What?

If the animal you have found is a bat, raccoon, skunk, fox or coyote, do not handle the animal with bare hands. Because these animals are rabies-vector species, they MUST be handled with gloves or towels!

Temporary Care Instructions for All Animals:

• Do not give the animal any food or water.
• Keep the animal warm. (Place birds in a tissue-filled shoebox or other small box and larger animals in a larger box with a towel. Make sure the box has holes in the lid.
• Keep the animal in a dark, quiet place.
• Leave the animal alone; don’t handle or bother it.
• Keep children and pets away.
• Call WildCare at 415-456-SAVE (7283).

Read more:
WildCare - Terwilliger Nature Education & Wildlife Rehabilitation

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Too Much Sun

• Protect your skin: Sunlight contains two kinds of UV rays -- UVA increases the risk of skin cancer, skin aging, and other skin diseases. UVB causes sunburn and can lead to skin cancer. Limit the amount of direct sunlight you receive between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and wear a sunscreen with a sun protection factor containing a high rating such as 15. 
• Drink plenty of water regularly and often even if you do not feel thirsty. Your body needs water to keep cool. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them. They can make you feel good briefly but make the heat's effects on your body worse. This is especially true with beer, which dehydrates the body. 
• Watch for signs of heat stroke: Heat stroke is life-threatening. The victim's temperature control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly. Signals include hot, red, and dry skin; changes in consciousness, rapid, weak pulse, and rapid, shallow breathing. Call 9-1-1 or your local EMS number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body by wrapping wet sheets around the body and fan it. If you have ice packs or cold packs, place them on each of the victim's wrists and ankles, in the armpits and on the neck to cool the large blood vessels. Watch for signals of breathing problems and make sure the airway is clear. Keep the person lying down. 
• Wear eye protection: Sunglasses are like sunscreen for your eyes and protect against damage that can occur from UV rays. Be sure to wear sunglasses with labels that indicate that they absorb at least 90 percent of UV sunlight. 
• Wear foot protection: Many times, people's feet can get burned from the sand or cut from glass in the sand.

Naval Safety Center
Read more: www.safetycenter.navy.mil/safetips/beach.htm

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Hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when your body's control mechanisms fail to maintain a normal body temperature. Signs and symptoms that may develop include gradual loss of mental and physical abilities. Severe hypothermia can lead to death.
Mayo Clinic
Read more: www.mayoclinic.com/health/hypothermia/DS00333

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Fins in the Ocean!

Sharks are unpredictable, and any time you are in waist-deep ocean waters you are in shark country. Sharks rarely attack people, but a few simple precautions can help you reduce the already slight risk.
National Parks Conservation Association
Read more:
www.npca.org/marine_and_coastal/marine_wildlife/avoid_attack.asp

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Tsunamis

Tsunamis are ocean waves produced by earthquakes or underwater landslides. The word is Japanese and means "harbor wave," because of the devastating effects these waves have had on low-lying Japanese coastal communities. Tsunamis are often incorrectly referred to as tidal waves, but a tsunami is actually a series of waves that can travel at speeds averaging 450 (and up to 600) miles per hour in the open ocean. In the open ocean, tsunamis would not be felt by ships because the wavelength would be hundreds of miles long, with an amplitude of only a few feet. This would also make them unnoticeable from the air. As the waves approach the coast, their speed decreases and their amplitude increases. Unusual wave heights have been known to be over 100 feet high. However, waves that are 10 to 20 feet high can be very destructive and cause many deaths or injuries.
American Red Cross
Read more: www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_592_,00.html
Download the information (PDF)

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Dogs Safety at the Beach

Each year when the weather heats up, it's time to head for beach. But if you bring your dog along, you'll need to be mindful of a few things.

• Be sure to have plenty of fresh water available for your pet to drink.
• Don't let him drink sea water, which can make him sick.
• Arrange for a shady, protected place for your dog to rest after a romp in the sun.
• Use sunscreen on exposed areas, like his nose and ears.
• Don't throw sticks or Frisbees far out into the water and expect your dog to retrieve them. The surf is strong, treacherous, and unpredictable, capable of carrying your pet out to sea before you know it, so play on the sand and not in the water.

Preventing Sunburn

When the sun comes out, your pet's skin needs special protection. If your pet's nose has more pink areas than black, it's especially susceptible to burning, and, over the long term, even skin cancer. Light pets and pets with short, cropped fur are also at risk. The answer: frequently apply a waterproof, non-toxic sunscreen with a maximum SPF of 15 to exposed areas on your pet. Make sure to rub it in. Even if he or she licks it off, some will have already penetrated to protect your dog from the sun's harmful rays.
Animal Rescue
Read more about keeping your pets safe:
www.animalrescuetv.com/safety.html#20

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Bonfires at the Beach

You can enjoy a bonfire at Muir Beach, but strict rules apply. Fires are only allowed in the three fire rings and grills near the south end of the parking lot, and only during the day.

For more details call (415) 388-2595 or go to www.nps.gov/muwo/mube/index.htm.

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Just for Kids!

Yes, beach safety is serious. For some kids, though, games are the best way to get the message through. Each game on this website is an Adobe Acrobat file you can view and print, then hand off to your favorite kid.
www.oregon.gov/OPRD/PARKS/beach_games.shtml

Life on the Rocky Shore is about ocean tidepools. Kids can learn about tidepool safety, tides & animals through games, puzzels etc. There's even a scavenger hunt.
ThinkQuest
http://library.thinkquest.org/J001418/index.html

Fun Facts, Sun Safety, a Quiz & Coloring just for kids.
http://server.journalism.wisc.edu/j617/oceansafety/kids.html

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© 2006 Muir Beach Volunteer Firemen's Association

This website site is maintained by the Muir Beach Volunteer Firemen's Association
for the benefit of the MBVFD and the community.