How to avoid 8 unexpected dangers that lurk us at the beach and when swimming

Everyone already knows that you shouldn’t swim on beaches drunk or during storms, that dangerous animals live in the seas and that strong waves can carry you away from the coast. However, there are also hidden threats that people are sometimes not even aware of.

O awesome.club advises you to swim with caution and remember the dangers that bathers can face on the beaches of any country.

Very popular in Hollywood plots: the protagonist gets stuck in quicksand and is “swallowed”, just like in a swamp. To add to the drama, only the unlucky individual’s hat remains on the surface.

This scenario in real life is practically impossible. Quicksand is nothing more than soaked sand, which acquires properties of a viscous liquid. So, when you step on it, you start sinking. Several experiments have already shown that sand cannot completely suck a person in, leaving him trapped up to his waist at most. However, you are also unlikely to escape alone. To free at least one leg, it is necessary to apply a force of 100,000 Newtons (which is equivalent to lifting a car).

The real risk lies in the trapped person being covered by a wave and drowning. Quicksand is also dangerous for children, as they would not have the nerve to face the situation and would end up swinging their arms and legs even more in an attempt to escape, which would lead to an even deeper immersion.

If you fall into quicksand, you should lean on your back and lie down so your body weight will be evenly distributed and you will be pushed to the surface.

An encounter with a barrel jellyfish will not be pleasant. This marine animal is venomous and just touching its tentacles is enough to immediately feel a burn. Although it does not lead to tragic consequences, the contact will be very painful and the skin burn can be felt for hours.

This creature is especially dangerous for bathers who like to play with jellyfish, which can easily burn a person’s eyes or lips. And don’t even consider picking up a dead barrel jellyfish. Even without life, these animals are still venomous.

When there are a lot of jellyfish in the sea, the authorities officially prohibit entry into the water. Everyone must respect the prohibitions, not least because accidentally touching a barrel jellyfish is completely different from being among dozens, or even hundreds, of these creatures. So keep up with the local news, and when you enter the sea, never forget to look around: barrel jellyfish are inconspicuous creatures.

These animals inhabit the Atlantic Ocean and the North, Mediterranean, Black and Baltic seas.

Square waves are rare and as beautiful as they are dangerous. They occur when the current pushes the water in one direction and the wind in the other.

This natural phenomenon is risky for both people and boats, which can easily be capsized by the force of the waves. If you notice square waves, immediately get out of the water, as they move at high speed and you could be washed away from shore or drown.

In many cases, a walk on the beach results in sand flea bites, which term refers to both tiny crustaceans and arthropods (bloodsucking mosquitoes and chiggers).

The crustacean does not cause any problems for humans. Mosquitoes, which love humid and sandy regions, are more irritating, especially at night and at dawn when they are more active. The bite of this insect causes itching, redness and mild pain. The main problem is that they do not fly themselves. If you’ve been stung by one, there are probably others nearby waiting their turn.

The bicho-de-pé is a slightly more serious threat, especially in Brazil. While the males just bite, the females burrow through the skin to lay their eggs, causing the disease called tungiasis. This little bug is found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

The best way to avoid contact with these creatures is not to walk barefoot on the seaweed thrown by the seashore, as well as on the sand at night, when it is cold.

Rip current forms perpendicular to the shore and can occur on any beach. The speed of this current is high. If a person enters the water, he will be carried directly into the sea. These “corridors” are usually narrow and harmless, but they can reach up to 25 meters in width and the length, generally, does not exceed 24 meters.

If you notice a foamy “channel” perpendicular to the beach, under no circumstances enter the water (especially if you don’t know how to swim). If you get caught in the current, don’t try to reach the shore. The right thing is to swim sideways to get out of the risk area. As soon as you notice that there is no more current, you can return to the beach.

A beautiful but risky phenomenon is when the waves break hard on the sand. Many beachgoers love to watch this on the beach. These waves are sometimes very strong, and can knock the person down or even pull him overboard.

Usually these impacts, caused by wave breaking, do not seriously injure people, but under unfavorable circumstances, they can result in fractures and injuries. Therefore, it costs nothing to watch the waves on the beach a little further from the water.

When the sea is rough, swimming is generally not recommended, but few people follow this advice. If you are swimming far from shore and a big wave comes your way, just dive under it holding your nose in your hand. If you try to fight big waves, you might swallow water and panic.

Look behind you when heading back to shore and always dive under the wave on your approach.

If you’ve been swept out to sea or if you’re swimming far away and start to feel very cold, don’t desperately try to swim to stay warm. To prevent hypothermia, you need to relax, moving your arms and legs as little as possible, maintaining a fetal position: as if you were sitting in water, hugging your knees. The more your body is above the surface of the water, the less heat you lose.

Regardless of how many lifeguards are on duty on the beach, your life and safety are your responsibility. Always be aware and aware of hidden dangers and do not take risks. Love and take care of yourself.