The National Conservation Commission (NCC) is reminding locals and visitors alike to be “beach smart” this summer, as their lives depend on it.
According to Special Projects Officer at the NCC, Ricardo Marshall, being beach smart is about “understanding and recognising the potential dangers, learning how to avoid them and knowing how to help someone if they get into trouble”.
In addition, he noted that with the anticipated increased number of beach users during the summer period, the NCC continued to place emphasis on providing them with the information they needed to make informed, safe and sensible choices.
These include, he outlined, always swimming in line with the shore; not swimming alone; or preventing children from wandering off. “If children are not within arm’s reach, they have gone too far,” he cautioned.
Mr. Marshall encouraged beach goers to utilise beaches with lifeguards and listed those as Bath Beach in St. John; Bathsheba in St. Joseph, Batt’s Rock, Brandon’s Beach, Browne’s Beach, Needhams Point and Graves End/Pebbles in St. Michael; Maxwell, Dover, Enterprise, and Rockley in Christ Church; Crane Beach in St. Philip; Heywoods Beach in St. Peter; and Folkestone and Royal Pavillion in St. James.
“Increased awareness of the beach and its environment, such as paying attention to warning signs and flags, as well as learning to swim, translates into less drownings or other incidents. It is important to remember that if you follow some simple rules, everyone can enjoy the beach and its environs safely,” he advised.