Jessica Moody runs a surf camp for kids and teens in Malibu, California. Your number one job is to keep the kids safe on the beach. Moody offers parents the following ocean safety tips: “When you go to the beach, make sure there is a public lifeguard present. Otherwise, don’t let your children go into the water.”
As a summer camp director for 8 years and a former collegiate water polo player, Moody has a lot of experience on the water. She says you should only swim on guarded beaches because “with lifeguards watching you, your chances of drowning are almost non-existent. But your chances of drowning increase at least five times when you swim without the supervision of a lifeguard.
“It is a heartbreaking statistic,” he adds, “because many of these tragic cases are preventable.”
Staffed lifeguard towers line many public beaches. When you arrive at the beach, be sure to place your towels, umbrellas, beach toys, and other equipment next to a staffed tower so that the lifeguard can keep a close eye on you and your child at all times.
“This is how we do it at summer camp,” says Moody, who adds, “If there is no lifeguard present, we play in the sand instead of letting the kids go into the water. When the lifeguard shows up, we let the the kids go swimming, surfing or bodyboarding. ”
Moody offers this last tip for parents: “Even if your child is a strong swimmer, don’t let him enter the ocean without a lifeguard present. If there are no lifeguards, you may see signs that say, ‘No lifeguards on duty.’ . ‘”