Beach safety management

Abstract

“Sun, Sea and Sand” offer (3s market) is attracting more and more persons to the coast. Public entities and private companies invest a lot to improve their tourist offer, but in many countries little is done to increase safety in beach use. Drowning in sea water: 137/year in UK; 100/year in USA only for rip currents. Deaths and serious invalidities (mostly for tetraplegia) caused by diving in shallow water are extremely frequent and only in few countries specific campaigns are done to address this problem. Children proved to be the most exposed group to risks related to beach activity, contributing for more than 50% of drownings, and to the almost totality to suffocation for submersion by the sand. Childers safety is the goal of some sensitization activities and signage in some countries. Risks associated to coastal morphology and dynamics are here analysed together with actions aimed at reducing them. Access and permanence in rocky coasts, beach morphology, rip currents, shore protection structures are considered. Specific studies addressed to risk assessment, stakeholders’ involvement and signage design and positioning are considered as best practices to reduce accidents in the use of the coastal area. Drowning rate reduction in Australia after an awareness campaign, appreciation of warning signage installation in Italy, show that action addressed to increasing beach safety must and can be part of beach management schemes. All this must be accompanied by a well structured Rescue organization, as it’s present in several countries.