Lifesaving Water Safety Advice

Beach Safety and Advice from the RNLI

In Pembrokeshire, we are blessed with beaches that are among some of the best in the UK. Our coast is so beautiful that it has even been designated as the UK’s only coastal national park.

When visiting beaches in Pembrokeshire whether you’re hitting the surf, walking the Coast Path, setting sail or feeling the sand between your toes, you should always respect the water. Here are some top tips from the RNLI on how to have fun, stay safe, and be adventure-smart along our epic Welsh coast.

Choose a Lifeguarded Beach

RNLI beach lifeguards are in place on the busiest of the Pembrokeshire beaches. Choosing a lifeguarded beach gives you and your family the protection of highly trained lifesavers. They can see the dangers and prevent accidents before they happen, responding instantly if anyone gets into difficulty.

Get your beach bag, swimsuit, towel and sunscreen at the ready because luckily in Pembrokeshire, we have plenty of stunning beaches that are lifeguarded during peak summer months. These include many popular holiday destinations such as:

Call the Coastguard

No matter if you’re walking along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, angling from the rocks, out on your paddleboard, or sailing further out to sea, having the means to call for help in an emergency can be the difference between life and death.

So when heading out for a beach day, always carry a means of calling for help. If you’re planning on going in the water, you can carry your mobile phone in a waterproof pouch. That way, if you find yourself or you spot someone else in an emergency situation, you can get help quickly and easily.

If in a coastal emergency, call 999 for the Coastguard.

It’s also worth knowing that with some smart devices, such as iPhones, repeatedly pressing the power button can activate an emergency call from your location.

Float to Live

Instinct will tell you to swim hard when you find yourself struggling in the water unexpectedly. The cold water shock of the Pembrokeshire sea can also make you gasp uncontrollably. This increases the risk of breathing in water and drowning. Instead, the advice is to Float to Live.

So however you end up in the water, if you end up in difficulty, always remember to float.

Tilt your head back, keeping your ears submerged. Relax and try to breathe normally. Move your hands to help you stay afloat and spread your arms and legs to improve stability. Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety.

It’s important to help children learn how to float too and practice often somewhere safe - like at a local swimming pool. You can sign your child up for a free Swim Safe session to help them learn the important skills to keep themselves safe at the beach and in the sea.

Know the Risks and What to Do

It’s a lot easier than you think to get into trouble in the water. Getting to grips with some of the common risks and finding out how to minimise them can prevent ending up in trouble.

On Land

When walking the Coastal Path, always keep well away from the water’s edge. Stick to the designated trail and beware of uneven, unstable or slippery ground. If you do fall into the water, remember Float to Live.

Many beaches in Pembrokeshire get cut off by a high tide so make sure you read any safety signs and seek local advice to avoid being cut off and trapped by the tide.

Avoid sitting or sunbathing directly below cliffs on beaches, there is always a risk of rock fall which can be increased by stormy weather.

In the Water

Before going into the water, assess whether the conditions exceed your ability as swimming in the sea is very different to swimming in a pool.

Whether you’re paddle-boarding or kayaking on the water, make sure to always keep buoyant by wearing a suitable flotation device. Fatigue can kick in quickly if you end up in the water so a buoyancy aid could save your life.

An easy way to reduce risks when being on the water is to have shore cover. Always tell someone on the shore your plans - where you’re going and what time you expect to be back. If you’re not back, they’ll be able to raise the alarm.

Know your Flags

When you visit any beach, you’ll see signs with important safety information about hazards specific to the area. If it’s a lifeguarded beach, you’ll also notice flags on the sand that show you where it’s safe to enter the water.

Red and yellow beach flag: lifeguard patrolled swimming and body boarding zone or lifeguard on duty. This shows the lifeguarded area and is the safest place to swim and bodyboard.

Black and white chequered beach flag: surfboard and other watercraft zone or zone boundary. For surfboards, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and other non-powered craft. Launch and recovery area for kite surfers and windsurfers. Never swim or bodyboard here.

Red beach flag: Dangerous conditions: Do not enter the water. This signifies a severe hazard, that water conditions are unsafe for swimming and other water activities, and people should not enter the water.

Orange windsock: Danger: no inflatables to be used on the water. Indicates offshore or strong wind conditions. Never use inflatables when the windsock is flying.

Coastal Cottages Holiday Cottages in West Wales

Our West Wales holiday cottages are each perfectly placed for exploring the magnificent Pembrokeshire Coast with its beautiful beaches, intricate Coast Path and array of attractions. Browse our holiday rentals in West Wales to stay in Pembrokeshire or set your sights on the neighbouring counties of Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.

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