Beach Safety Dangers and common injuriesDangers and common injuries Prevention and first aidPrevention and first aid

Dangers and Common Injuries SunSunSun –Danger: excessive exposure to sun –Injury: sun burn and skin cancer 1 st degree burn: redness, swelling1 st degree burn: redness, swelling 2 nd degree burn: redness, blisters2 nd degree burn: redness, blisters –Prevention: wear water-proof sunscreen, white clothing, hat, glasses, use shade, and limit exposure –Treatment: 1 st degree: cool water, loose dressing (if desired)1 st degree: cool water, loose dressing (if desired) 2 nd degree: no water, loose dressing2 nd degree: no water, loose dressing Cancer: remove skinCancer: remove skin

Skin Cancer

Dangers and Common Injuries Cold waterCold water –Danger: excessive exposure to cold water –Injury: hypothermia Often starts with denial of problemOften starts with denial of problem Cold, shiveringCold, shivering Uncontrolled shivering, incoherent speech, skin swells or turns blueUncontrolled shivering, incoherent speech, skin swells or turns blue Unconsciousness when core temp reaches about 87˚ FUnconsciousness when core temp reaches about 87˚ F –Prevention: wear appropriate wetsuit, boots, and limit exposure –Treatment: Replace wetsuit with dry clothing and keep warm, out of windReplace wetsuit with dry clothing and keep warm, out of wind

Dangers and Common Injuries Rip currentsRip currentsRip currentsRip currents –Danger: current pulling surfer out to sea –Injury: drowning –Prevention: Understand and avoid rip currents. Rip currents are rivers that carry wave water back to sea. –Treatment: (solution) Swim parallel to the beach until you are out of the current. Then swim to shore.Swim parallel to the beach until you are out of the current. Then swim to shore. If you are too tired to swim, wave to a lifeguard for help. About 80% of rescues involve rip currents.If you are too tired to swim, wave to a lifeguard for help. About 80% of rescues involve rip currents.

Dangers and Common Injuries SurfboardsSurfboards –Danger: surfboard hitting surfer –Injury: bruises, lacerations from fins –Prevention: Use soft boardsUse soft boards lower yourself to board when finishedlower yourself to board when finished avoid surfing in crowdsavoid surfing in crowds beware of pearlingbeware of pearling –Treatment: Get out of the water to check for bleeding and to restGet out of the water to check for bleeding and to rest Get first aid for all cuts and do not return to waterGet first aid for all cuts and do not return to water

Dangers and Common Injuries Surfboard injury statisticsSurfboard injury statistics –Dr. Andrew Nathanson in “Surfing Injuries” in 1999 reports on 1348 surfing injuries: 1237 acute injuries1237 acute injuries 477 chronic injuries477 chronic injuries –Agent causing acute injury 55% resulted from own board55% resulted from own board 17% resulted from sea floor17% resulted from sea floor 12% resulted from other’s board12% resulted from other’s board

Dangers and Common Injuries Surfboard injury statisticsSurfboard injury statistics –Type of acute injury 42% lacerations (skin is cut)42% lacerations (skin is cut) 13% contusions (injury without breaking skin)13% contusions (injury without breaking skin) 12% sprains/strains12% sprains/strains 8% fractures8% fractures –Location of injury 37% head and neck37% head and neck 13% trunk13% trunk 13% upper extremity13% upper extremity 13% lower extremity13% lower extremity 1% systemic1% systemic

Dangers and Common Injuries Surfboard injury statisticsSurfboard injury statistics –Chronic injuries (overuse syndromes) 26% back strain26% back strain 18% shoulder strain18% shoulder strain 9% neck strain9% neck strain 9% knee strain9% knee strain 5% elbow strain5% elbow strain 3% rib inflammation3% rib inflammation 2% other2% other –Chronic injuries (environmental exposure) 14% exostosis of ear (surfer’s ear)14% exostosis of ear (surfer’s ear) 4% pterygium (growth on eye from sun)4% pterygium (growth on eye from sun)

Dangers and Common Injuries Chronic injuries (infection)Chronic injuries (infection) 7% otitis (ear infection)7% otitis (ear infection) 6% cellulitis (skin infection)6% cellulitis (skin infection) 2% sinusitis (sinus infection)2% sinusitis (sinus infection) 5% other5% other Surfers at higher risk for injurySurfers at higher risk for injury Older surfersOlder surfers Expert surfersExpert surfers Big-wave surfersBig-wave surfers Surfers who have been surfing for 20+ yearsSurfers who have been surfing for 20+ years

“Injury Rates in Sports” in the Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance in 2002 ranks number of injuries per 1,000 times an athlete participates in these sports: Boxing 5.2Softball 2.2Skateboarding 0.8 Snowboarding 3.8Basketball 1.9BMX 0.8 Football 3.8Surfing 1.8Running 0.6 Ice hockey 3.7Wrestling 1.4Inline skating 0.4 Skiing 3.0Baseball 1.4Paintball 0.2 Soccer 2.4Mountain biking 1.2Treadmill 0.1

Dangers and Common Injuries BottomBottom –Danger: shallow water, lack of visibility –Injury: spinal injury (paralysis), lacerations from rock bottom –Chris McAleer Story Chris McAleer StoryChris McAleer Story –Prevention: never dive into ocean, wear surfing boots –Treatment: Lifeguard rescue, treatment, and hospitalizationLifeguard rescue, treatment, and hospitalization

Dangers and Common Injuries Jellyfish, stingrays, and sharksJellyfish, stingrays, and sharks –Danger: aquatic animal –Injury: sting or bite –Prevention: Jellyfish: wear wetsuit or avoid areaJellyfish: wear wetsuit or avoid area Stingray: shuffle feet while walking in waterStingray: shuffle feet while walking in water Shark: never surf alone, by seals, without lifeguardShark: never surf alone, by seals, without lifeguard –Treatment: Jellyfish: remove jellyfish (apply heat)Jellyfish: remove jellyfish (apply heat) Stingray: apply hot waterStingray: apply hot water Shark: lifeguard rescue, treatment, hospitalizationShark: lifeguard rescue, treatment, hospitalization

Dangers and Common Injuries Todd M. Zoltan in “Health Issues for Surfers” in American Family Physician states:Todd M. Zoltan in “Health Issues for Surfers” in American Family Physician states: – “Although shark attacks garner worldwide headlines, they are rare. In 2003, there were 55 unprovoked shark attacks worldwide, which resulted in four deaths. Of these, 39 attacks and one death occurred in the United States, mostly in Florida. About one half of all unprovoked shark attacks worldwide involved surfers or windsurfers.”

Dangers and Common Injuries Drew Kampion in Stoked: A History of Surf Culture:Drew Kampion in Stoked: A History of Surf Culture: –“There have been about thirty-five shark attacks on surfers in California since 1970 (and only one of them fatal, at Asilomar near Monterey in 1981)”

Sharks and Surfing Shark or dolphin?Shark or dolphin?

Dangers and Common Injuries Reducing risk of shark attack (Department of Fisheries, Australia):Reducing risk of shark attack (Department of Fisheries, Australia): –Swim between the flags at patrolled beaches. –Avoid time in/on the water around dusk and dawn – when most fish are feeding and sharks are likely to be active. –Avoid areas where there are large schools of fish, or among seals and close to rookeries. –Avoid areas where animal, human, or fish waste enter the water. –Avoid deep-water channels or drop-offs nearby. –Do not remain in the water with bleeding wounds. –If you see a shark, leave the water as quickly and calmly as possible. Avoid excessive splashing or noise.

Lifeguard Signs Flag ConditionsFlag Conditions –Green Flag: Mild ocean hazards with possibility of occasional larger waves and rip currents –Green Flag: Mild ocean hazards with possibility of occasional larger waves and rip currents –Yellow Flag: Moderate ocean hazards with frequent large waves and rip currents. Should be an experienced swimmer or surfer with proper equipment to enter into the surf zone –Yellow Flag: Moderate ocean hazards with frequent large waves and rip currents. Should be an experienced swimmer or surfer with proper equipment to enter into the surf zone –Red Flag: Extremely hazardous ocean conditions with large powerful waves and strong rip currents. Only expert swimmers and surfers with proper equipment should enter the water

Lifeguard Signs Flag ConditionsFlag Conditions –Blackball (yellow flag with a black ball in the middle): No surfing. Lifeguards usually raise Blackball from noon to 5:00 p.m. at popular beaches during the summer to protect swimmers, waders, body-boarders, children, etc., from being hit by hard boards with fins. –Blackball (yellow flag with a black ball in the middle): No surfing. Lifeguards usually raise Blackball from noon to 5:00 p.m. at popular beaches during the summer to protect swimmers, waders, body-boarders, children, etc., from being hit by hard boards with fins.

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