On tropical beaches , warning signs for these dangerous stingers include:. These warning signs don't always show up "but they're dead giveaways if we do see them", Dr Gershwin says. A big step to avoid being stung is to only swim at patrolled beaches. And Dr Gershwin said that, of the types of protections that have been tested, a full-body lycra suit or neoprene wetsuit was best.
Outside of the tropics , the things that sting do hurt but don't generally kill, and it's easier to see them. The most common stingers beachgoers are likely to encounter are bluebottles, and the difference between a fun day in the surf and an early trip home to nurse a sting can be as simple as looking up and down the beach, Associate Professor Brander says. The sting's not going to kill you but it's going to hurt pretty bad," he said.
And when I'm in the water, I'm looking at the surface for that telltale bubble of a bluebottle. Shark attacks are relatively rare — one person died in this year out of a total of 19 recorded unprovoked shark attacks — but when they do happen they attract a lot of attention. You can minimise your risk of being in the same neighbourhood as a shark by avoiding swimming around river outlets, or in dirty water, especially after a storm, as these are often feeding areas for the marine predators, according to Mr Daw.
Watch out for bait balls or schools of fish, as they may have sharks following them looking for a feed. Another one of the common warnings about sharks — beware of swimming at dusk and dawn — does hold true, Mr Daw says, but not for the reason you might think. It has more to do with lower visibility and the fact more surfers tend to be out at that time of day, increasing the likelihood of a shark encounter at that time. You can also consider using a shark tracker mobile app that displays shark sightings in real time — although this data is not available in all states.
But keep the risk of shark attacks in perspective, Associate Professor Brander urged. They live in the ocean, they always have. In the grand scheme of things it's a non-issue," he said. Shark-tracking drone technology means we know more about the position of sharks in the ocean, but they are no more numerous or dangerous than they've ever been.
Associate Professor Brander says people need to worry less about sharks and more about the water itself, particularly "basic things like rips and breaking waves". The safest place to swim is between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches. These are places trained lifeguards have identified as being relatively safe and where they are watching for swimmers who may need help.
Look out for other signage, including warning signs for hazards such as hidden rocks, regulatory signs showing what's not allowed on that beach, and safety signs pointing to provisions such as emergency beacons or first aid supplies. You can also use Surf Life Saving Australia's Beachsafe website and app for live information about beaches in your area.
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. Rip currents. Can technology replace the need for shark nets and drumlines? December 11, AM. Topics Western Suburbs Weekly. Perth Now Local News. Perth Now Email Us Get our newsletter. Chevron Down Icon Submit a story tip.
Camera Icon Send us your pictures. Chevron Down Icon Back to top. North Wanneroo Joondalup Stirling. Central Western Suburbs Central Southern. Because rip currents move perpendicular to shore and can be very strong, beach swimmers need to be careful. A person caught in a rip can be swept away from shore very quickly. The best way to escape a rip current is by swimming parallel to the shore instead of towards it, since most rip currents are less than 80 feet wide. A swimmer can also let the current carry him or her out to sea until the force weakens, because rip currents stay close to shore and usually dissipate just beyond the line of breaking waves.
Occasionally, however, a rip current can push someone hundreds of yards offshore.
0コメント