Dozens of beachgoers tragically lose their lives every summer along Spain’s coastline, often due to a lack of awareness about the precautions that can be taken when visiting the country’s beaches. Here’s the experts’ advice on how to stay safe.
Over the past weekend, eight people drowned while swimming from several different beaches across the Spain, while ninth victim died while swimming in a river. Several more people died in swimming pools.
Swimming off the coast in Spain may seem like a harmless activity and millions come here every year to do just that, but it’s important to be aware and take care, particularly if you’re not used to sea or ocean swimming.
Here are some safety tips recommended by lifeguards and maritime rescue services.
Check the weather forecast
It’s always sunny in Spain, right? So why is this necessary? Contrary to popular opinion, Spain isn’t always blessed with perfect weather, strong winds, swells, rain and storms can all cause dangerous swimming conditions. Storms can be quite common in some parts of Spain, particularly in the second half of August due to the heat, so it’s best to check ahead and avoid the beach under these conditions.
Ensure there’s a lifeguard on duty
Most major beaches in Spain provide lifeguards in summer, but there are many smaller and quieter beaches that don’t. Lifeguards also clock off at a certain time, even in big cities, so if you decide to swim late, you need know that rescue services may not be on hand. If you do choose to swim at a beach without a lifeguard, it will be at your own risk and take extra precautions. When arriving at a beach with lifeguard you should also make sure to locate where they are in case of an emergency.
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Pay attention to the colour of the flags
At most beaches in Spain where there are lifeguards on duty, you also find different coloured flags being displayed, depending on the water conditions.
- A green flag means swimming is allowed and that the sea is calm.
- A yellow flag indicates that you need to pay more attention and swim near the shore or in places you can stand due to increased windspeed, high waves and other sea conditions.
- A red flag indicates that swimming is prohibited due to hazardous conditions such as very rough seas.
- A white flag with jellyfish on means that jellyfish have been spotted in the water so take extra care and watch out.
- A black flag on the other hand means a total ban on beach access due to contamination, pollution or damage to infrastructure for example.
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Know your physical limitations
It’s important to be aware of your swimming capabilities and know your limits. If you’re an avid swimmer and swim regularly, you’ll most likely be able to handle certain conditions than people who rarely swim will. If you’re not a confident swimmer, don’t try to swim out as a far as everyone else.
“Whether there are lifeguards or not, we shouldn’t go in deeper than our waists,” says Basilio Martínez, technical director of the Lifesaving and Rescue Federation of the Principality of Asturias (FSSPA) told La Voz de Asturias. His advice is to always swim “close to the shore and go sideways,” avoiding going out to sea and, on beaches with safety buoys, staying within the designated swimming area.
Be careful with inflatables
Inflatables, whether lilos, blow-up animals or dinghies can be dangerous in certain situations. Firstly, you must ensure there are no air leaks, so they don’t deflate quickly once in the water and pose risks. Secondly, on windy days they can capsize relatively easily due to their air resistance or can be carried out to sea very quickly.
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Pay extra attention to children, the elderly and those with disabilities
If you’re going to the beach with small children, elderly parents or those with other disabilities, you have to be even more aware than normal. Some people may think it’s enough to simply keep a close eye on your children and watch them from the beach, but Martínez stresses that “If a child is in the water, the adult has to be in the water with them”.
Be aware of currents and changes in depth
While the Mediterranean can seem very calm compared to other seas or oceans you may have swum in, you do need to pay attention to strong currents and at beaches where there is a steep drop not far from the shore. If you’re on the Mediterranean side, strong currents can be a particular problem in the Balearic Islands. If you’re in northern Spain, however, swimming in the Atlantic or Cantabrian Sea, you need to be even more careful. Riptides can occur often in places like Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria.
Riptides can often look like channel of churning or choppy water that flows outwards from the shore, but the Guardia Civil have also confirmed they can look like a calm area between the waves. Whichever one you see, it could indicate danger, so it’s best to say away from it. =
If you do get caught in a riptide or current, “The first thing is to stay calm,” explains Martínez, adding that “you should never swim against the current because you’ll exhaust yourself”.
His recommendation is to initially let yourself be carried along, signal for help by raising your arm, and, when the current weakens, try to swim sideways toward the area where the waves are breaking.
Don’t jump off cliffs or rocks into the sea
While it can be very tempting to jump off cliffs into the sea, it’s also very dangerous. There could be hidden underwater rocks or ledges and shifting water depths. It can also be very difficult to get back out again and there is a risk of being pummelled by the waves onto the rocky shoreline.
Be careful when swimming in lakes too
Lakes can have separate risks to the sea and it’s important to know about these too. If you’re going swimming in a lake in Spain, make sure to stay in designated areas, wear a coloured float to stay visible and don’t dive in headfirst. If the water is very cold, make sure to go in slowly so your body can adjust to the temperature. Jumping straight in can cause cold water shock including an elevated heart rate and hyperventilation.
