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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think that we need more education about the sea?

234 replies

LyndaNotLinda · 21/08/2016 19:10

Six people dead in 24 hours around the British coast. Many more injured. Lots of RNLI staff risking their lives to save people who have taken insane risks.

I live on the coast and a number of people on our beaches get into serious trouble every summer and that isn't even with a storm thrown into the mix. Once you add that in, the risks to holidaymakers are enormous.

Do we need government warning to tell people that it isn't safe to go in or near the water in high winds? It just seems that people were taken totally unawares by the power of the sea :(

OP posts:

Thread gallery

stayathomegardener · 21/08/2016 22:34

Going to show this to DD tomorrow.
Thanks

Rhinosaurus · 21/08/2016 22:37

This was the sea at Pentire Headland, Newquay going into Fistral at the weekend - I wouldn't even go on the beach when it's like this.

Rhinosaurus · 21/08/2016 22:39

Forgot to link the pic!

AIBU to think that we need more education about the sea?

PortiaCastis · 21/08/2016 22:41

Rhino I heard about the dog story, words fail me. We had press and tv bugging us a couple of Christmases ago when our beach was washed away and other things happened. Vultures I told them where to go. Education is one thing but getting a story from people's misery is Daily Fail material

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 21/08/2016 22:44

I watched the video Cog, but. I found it too upsetting and terrifying so I had to turn it off. Just hearing their screams made me go ice cold
Thank the sweet Lord they survived though.

HemanOrSheRa · 21/08/2016 22:46

I have the greatest respect for the lifeguards who patrol our beaches Portia. I don't think people appreciate how highly trained they are. For example, we have been in the sea (between the flags) and have seen a lifeguard go out on their surfboard. Lots of people around us have said 'Oooh look, they are enjoying quick a surf'. No they bloody aren't. THEY ARE CHECKING THE WATER YET AGAIN to make sure everything and everyone is safe. They shout themselves hoarse trying to corral people into the safe area where they can watch.

We've been in the sea and there are literally hundreds of people in there that the guards are watching. They can only do this between the flags.

NNChangeAgain · 21/08/2016 22:48

I fear we've reached a stage in society where some people believe that "the authorities" will protect them from every risk.

Some people believe that if it were too dangerous to be near the sea, that the beach would be closed, and they wouldn't be permitted to have access.

I heard a couple arguing last week over whether it was safe to climb a recent cliff fall. Despite signage warning people of the danger, the lady said that "they" were just covering themselves, and if it was really dangerous, there would be more then just a bit of temporary fencing preventing people getting in. She honestly believed that it was safe, because she could gain access, and that if it were risky, "the authorities" would physically prevent people from putting themselves in danger.

The ability to risk assess, and make judgments, seems to be gradually being lost.

HemanOrSheRa · 21/08/2016 22:50

Also, to add - lifeguards aren't some awful killjoys trying to ruin everyones fun. They do what they do precisely because they want everyone to have a great time.

PortiaCastis · 21/08/2016 22:51

Oh my goodness thank you Heman nice to read that. Far better than a fuck off

converseandjeans · 21/08/2016 22:51

Yes they should have safety videos like we did in the 70s and 80s. Like the one at the power station and road safety ones. Still remember them now. I don't think I will let my kids too far in the sea after all the tragedies. Many areas have no flags or beach patrols like Cornwall and that needs to be resolved

Piscivorus · 21/08/2016 22:54

People seem to be taking less responsibility for everything now. As others have said, it should be commonsense to avoid such dangers and we should not really need to discuss spending money to educate them on such basic things in an age when society is cutting so much

PortiaCastis · 21/08/2016 22:56

Kaiser Chiefs did a gig on a beach last night in Dorset only the tide started to come in. Ricky Wilson asked everyone to leave calmly and they took notice of him. Saw it on tv and people seemed calm, bad timing for a gig though.

Blu · 21/08/2016 22:56

I think constant taking photos, filming and fb-ing has a lot to do with it. (in general - I do not know the details of the recent specific tragedies) As soon as something is going on, people go and take photos. And then concentrate on that , as a photo, and not on the actual event, on all its peril.

If it is massive and dangerous, STAY AWAY - don't go and gawp.

Topseyt · 21/08/2016 22:57

I have a healthy respect for the sea but am constantly amazed that some people do seem to think that the warnings and advice do not apply to them.

Even the calmest looking sea can be hiding strong riptides, and there can also be a very very strong undertow which can drag the strongest swimmers down.

These problems occur in seas worldwide, and the British coastline is particularly notorious for them.

I have seen pictures on the news in the past during particularly stormy weather of people standing on sea walls as ferocious tides crashed around them. I think they must be insane.

SealSong · 21/08/2016 23:03

Lovelyupnorth, thank you so much for what you do. I have so much respect for life boat crew.

Rhinosaurus · 21/08/2016 23:04

Porthmeor Beach - St Ives - note how they have incorporated the lifeguard flag into their territory utter tools

PortiaCastis · 21/08/2016 23:04

This was a couple of years ago. There's no accounting for stupid !
www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/cornwall-storm-pictures-young-family-2983719

HemanOrSheRa · 21/08/2016 23:06

I'd like to be shocked by people telling you to fuck off, Portia but I'm not. I been told to fuck off when I've been assisting in the evacuation of a burning building . Charming.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that a lot of problems are caused by men who think they know better. And I also wonder whether as people holiday in the Med and go in the sea, which has virtually no tide and slow currents, that it gives them a false sense of security when they leap into the sea in the UK in their wetsuits?

RockyBird · 21/08/2016 23:06

I was out with my gran on Saturday afternoon. She told me a story about her childhood friend drowning at Aberdeen Beach. Later we heard the horrific news.

We go there a lot but I don't remember ever seeing flags.

There's a rumour locally the family were Pokémon hunting, but that's probably shite.

The other week I let my kids paddle while I sat in the car. I'm not going to be so fucking stupid again.

heatherwithapee · 21/08/2016 23:06

Absolutely agree with you. I am from the Westcountry and it seems that 9/10, the people affected by these tragedies are holiday-makers. Not because the locals don't go to the beach, but because we are so very aware of how powerful the sea is. We've grown up wary of it (and sadly watched too many rescues of others, learning from their mistakes).

In the last few years, I've been nearby when people have died or been seriously injured by: being washed out to sea in a rip current, being cut off by the tide when rockpooling, having a big hole (that they'd dug) on the beach collapse in on them, been blown out to sea in an inflatable and I'm sure there's more. Locals appreciate how dangerous all these things are.

The thing is education is tricky. A nationalised campaign would probably be ignored by those that don't live near to the sea. And when on holiday, people just want to crack on and have fun, not stop to read leaflets etc.

PortiaCastis · 21/08/2016 23:10

You're right Heman but I must add drunken bravado to the mix

Pandsala · 21/08/2016 23:10

Yes there should be more education, but part of that needs to include how to enjoy the sea/beach safely, rather than just scaring people. DH is terrified of water because MIL gets hysterical about children near it and it genuinely makes life hard for him, as in he can't cope with ferries or looking at the sea or even a full bath tub (he can cope with showers though thankfully)

clary · 21/08/2016 23:11

YY we need to do something. These tragedies can so be avoided.

I live in the East Mids and most years there are stories of people from Nottingham or Derby being washed out on lilos on the Lincolnshire coast. Usually rescued thank goodness but still need to be made aware.

My dad lived on the coast and his dad was a fisherman so he always drummed into us how important it was to respect the sea. Then in later life I lived on the North Yorks coast and was always amazed by how many people would go and stand on the roads overlooking the sea when there was a storm - and the roads had been closed to cars!

Not safe for vehicles but fine for pedestrians somehow?? Again, often there were tragic consequences.

Many thanks to all those on this thread who are lifeguards or RNLI volunteers. You are doing a fantastic ob.

GoldFishFingerz · 21/08/2016 23:12

Where I live it's mostly the inland city tourists who take risks.

clary · 21/08/2016 23:12

fantastic job of course, sorry

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