While untrodden beaches are appealing, they may harbour hidden hazards It’s summer. It’s hot and it’s hard to resist Australia’s beautiful beaches, but a couple of words of caution are in order before you dive in. I am not telling you this to scare you, but because visitors and newcomers are overrepresented in the statistics of those who come to grief and we want everyone to have a great day and come home safely. That includes Australians. While shark attacks grab the headlines, they pale into insignificance as a cause of death compared to drownings and some other lesser -known nasties. For this reason Surf Life Saving Clubs have been warning about rips this season. This refers to fast running currents in the water that have the potential to drag you out to sea. They are one of most common reasons why swimmers get into difficulty. Here is how to recognise them, followed by how to get out of one. The main thing is not to panic. I learnt a bit my...
Practising Geographer - nature culture places people