Inflatable toys might be great fun in the water, but lifeguards say they're too dangerous for the beach.
POOL TOYS NOT BEACH TOYS
“We pull way too many people in who have been swept out to sea on these - even in the calmest of conditions. Please. Just. No.”
Emma Liddy, Surf Lifeguard
Every Summer our volunteer Surf Lifeguards are spending hours rescuing people who’ve been swept out to sea on an inflatable pool toy. Even on the calmest of beaches, an off-shore breeze will sweep you out to sea very quickly. Yes they look like fun, but please use those inflatable flamingos, unicorns and donuts in your pool. Not the beach.
NO SWIPING RIGHT HERE PEEPS
“Cheap inflatable kayaks and dinghies are not built for the surf or open seas. You will get smashed or in a lot of trouble.”
Mick Kearney, Surf Lifeguard
Cheap inflatable kayaks and dinghies might be convenient and lightweight – but they also come with risk. Strong currents and winds can easily blow an inflatable kayak or dinghy out to sea, where you can quickly find yourself out of your depth and far away from shore. Please think twice before using a cheap inflatable vessel on our beaches.
Inflatable Kayaks & Dinghies - No Match for the Surf or Open Seas
Cheap inflatable dinghies & kayaks aren't a match for the surf or open seas.
The wind can sweep you out to sea fast! And those waves will smash you.
Inflatable Kayaks & Dinghies - Know Their Limits
Cheap inflatable dinghies & kayaks aren't a built for the surf or open seas.
Make sure what you're doing with your inflatable vessel matches its limits and capabilities, as well as your own skill level.
Keep Calm. Stay On it. Signal for Help!
If you happen to ignore the safety advice and find yourself being whisked away out to sea very fast on a cheap inflatable dinghy/kayak:
KEEP CALM.
STAY ON IT (it will keep you afloat)
SIGNAL FOR HELP!
Cross fingers you took your phone for selfies.
READY 2 BOOGIE?
“We see a lot of kids get into trouble with their boogie boards when they don’t wear the leash or have fins. They can’t get themselves out of deep water easily if they fall off and lose their boogie boards and don’t have fins.”
Kids, young people, and adults can get over-confident in the water when boogie/body boarding. In the quest to catch a bigger wave you can end up in really deep water. If you lose your boogie board and don’t have fins, it can be really difficult to get back to shore. If you get into trouble in the water, an attached leash means you have something to float on and wearing fins improves your chances of swimming back to shore.
Fins + Leash = Ready 2 Boogie!
If your or your kids get into trouble in the water, FINS and an attached LEASH gives you better odds of getting out of trouble!
An attached leash to a boogie board means you have a flotation device if you get into difficulties in the water.
Fins give you extra kicking power so you can swim back to shore.
