Gold Coast Beach SafetySurf Life Saving Queensland's Advice

If you've grown up near the beach and make regular trips into the ocean, you should probably already have a fairly good idea of how to keep yourself safe while enjoying the sun and the surf.

However if you're a visitor to the area or just aren't familiar with swimming in the open sea, read below for some great advice and tips for staying safe during your visit to the beach. Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) offers the following advice for Gold Coast beaches:

To stay safe at the beach remember FLAGS!

• Find the flags and swim between them
  The flags represent the area patrolled by lifesavers and lifeguards. They mark the safest place to swim at the beach.
  
  
• Look at the safety signs
  The safety signs help you identify potential dangers and daily conditions at the beach. These are located at beach access points and at the flagged areas. Please read them carefully before entering the water.
  
  
• Ask a lifesaver for some good advice
  Surf conditions can change quickly (water depth, currents, wave size and type). Talk to a lifesaver or lifeguard before entering the water.
  
  
• Get a friend to swim with you
  Always swim with a friend so you can look out for each other's safety and get help if needed. Children should be supervised by an adult.
  
  
• Stick your hand up for help
  If you get into trouble in the water, stay calm. Raise your arm to signal for help, float and wait for assistance. Float with a current or rip. Don't try and swim against it.

To stay safe on the beaches, never:

• Swim at unpatrolled beaches
• Swim at night
• Swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Run and dive into the water
• Swim directly after a meal.

If the lifesavers can't see you, they can't save you. Please swim between the flags.

For further information please contact Surf Life Saving Queensland on (07) 3846 8000.

What Other Dangers Are There on Gold Coast Beaches?

Strong currents during nasty weather - swim between the flags and you should be fine though

Dangerous surf - but the beaches are generally closed if it gets too bad

Overcrowding - it can get pretty crowded during the summer holiday season, but people are mostly nice - there are generally no nasties like needles or broken glass. If you don't like crowds try The Spit.

Blue Bottles - every now and then blue bottle jelly fish hang out on the Gold Coast, they don't tickle, but they won't kill you.

Images courtesy Tourism & Events Queensland, Tourism Australia, Destination Gold Coast & Getty Images