UNSW is situated only a few kilometres away from Coogee Beach so it is important that you understand how to be safe at the beach.

Each year, over 100 people drown in Australian coastal environments, with about half occurring on beaches; almost 90% are young males.

• Over 10,000 people are rescued each year by lifeguards, volunteer surf lifesavers and surfers
• On average, 21 people drown in beach rip currents every year.

These include:

• Rip currents - these are strong, narrow seaward flowing currents that start from the shoreline and can take you quickly out through the surf and a short distance beyond the breaking waves. They are common features found on Australian surf beaches
• Dangerous breaking waves - waves can be big and unpredictable and can break with great force. Be particularly careful of powerful wave breaking at the shoreline and on shallow sandbars
• Changing water depths - most beaches have sandbars and deeper channels that can change shape and location in a matter of days. You can quickly find yourself out of your depth if you step into a deeper channel
• Watch out for jellyfish, particularly bluebottles as they can give you a very painful sting
• Don’t get sunburnt and dehydrated. Always wear sunscreen, wear a hat and have water with you as beaches are hot environments.

• Swim between the red and yellow flags - most popular beaches have a pair, or pairs, of red and yellow beach flags which indicates an area supervised by lifeguards or lifesavers. You should always look for red and yellow flags and swim between them
• Australian beaches have both professional lifeguards, who work 7 days a week on many beaches, and volunteer surf lifesavers who patrol beaches on weekends and public holidays between September and April. Most of the Eastern Suburbs beaches have professional lifeguards on duty all year.
• Pay attention to any safety signs which have information about beach hazards
• Avoid beaches with no lifeguards – if in doubt, don’t go out
• If you are not a good swimmer, always make sure your feet are firmly on the bottom and don’t go in water deeper than your waist
• Always think about beach safety before swimming. Stop and look at the conditions and have a plan if something goes wrong
• If you see someone else in trouble in the water (a family member, friend or stranger), don’t just rush in to help. Take a moment to first call for help (000) or get someone else to call for help or find a lifeguard. If you do have to go into the water, make sure you take something from the beach that floats (e.g. boogie board, inflatable ball). Never go in without a flotation device.

Beach Safety | Surf Life Saving NSW

Beach Safety Hub | Surf Life Saving NSW 

Rip Current Safety

Science of the Surf