A new survey shows that two in five males donâ„¢t always swim between the flags.

People will continue to drown around the coastline in unacceptable numbers, if basic surf safety messages continue to be ignored, Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) warned.

A new survey shows that two in five males don’t always swim between the flags.

People will continue to drown around the coastline in unacceptable numbers, if basic surf safety messages continue to be ignored, Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) warned.

A Newspoll survey* of 1,200 adults across Australia commissioned by DHL for SLSA, has found that only 56 per cent of males and 75 per cent of females swim between the red and yellow flags “all of the time. According to SLSA’s CEO, Greg Nance, this irresponsible behaviour flies in the face of every available piece of evidence, which shows that the only safe place on the beach is between the red and yellow flags. “All of the coastal drowning deaths in 2003 – 2004 were outside the flags, and basic common sense tells you that if our surf lifesavers and lifeguards can’t see you then they can’t save you, he said.

The shock findings, part of the DHL Summer Surf Survey released today, show that while a very high proportion of Australians recognise the importance of basic surf safety practices such as swimming at a patrolled beach and checking warning signs, a substantially lower number claim to follow these practices “all of the time.

“This gap between knowledge and behaviour can have fatal consequences, and beachgoers need to consider this before they ignore basic safety messages, Mr Nance said. Males continue to be the highest risk group, both in terms of behaviour ” that is, they are most likely to ignore surf safety warnings – and coastal drowning – with 37 drowning deaths in 2003-2004.

“Boxing Day has traditionally been one of the busiest beach days of the year and with surf lifesaving services inevitably stretched around the country, it is absolutely critical that beachgoers behave in a responsible manner, Mr Nance said.

According to the DHL Summer Surf Survey, a number of reasons were given for not swimming between the flags all of the time:

• Eight-in-ten said it was because “there are no flags or there aren’t always flags on the beach
• Six-in-ten said it was because:
  • The area between the flags is sometimes overcrowded
  • They sometimes drift outside of the flags once they’re in the water
  • They know which areas outside of the flags are safe to swim
• Around one-in-two say it is because:
  • They are a strong swimmer
  • There is a better surf outside the flags
  • Sometimes the flags are too far away from where they want to swim.
  • Only one-in-four say it is because they prefer beaches that are not patrolled.
  • Only 4 per cent say it is because they were not aware they should swim between the fags.

Gary Edstein, Area Director, DHL Express Oceania said the DHL Summer Surf Survey, highlighted the importance of the company’s support of SLSA’s swim between the flags’ public awareness campaign. “DHL is spreading the swim between the flags’ message in a variety of innovative ways, including mobile billboards, cinema advertising and even on our delivery vans. This is critically important as we need to find new ways and mediums to reinforce this basic message, he said.

Greg Nance said that although the flagged area is often crowded, it is still the safest place to swim and if beachgoers have any doubts, they should consult the surf lifesavers on duty.

The key findings from the DHL Summer Surf Survey are:

• Almost one-in-two Australians swim in the surf at least once during summer
• Australians are swimming in the surf as frequently now as they did in 2000 (when the first Summer Surf Survey was commissioned)
• A very high proportion of those who swim in the surf during summer believe various surf safety practices are important

In particular, almost all surf-beach swimmers (those who swim in the surf at least once during summer) believe making sure children are always supervised when swimming is “very important, and a very high proportion claim to follow this practice “all of the time. This is backed up by the findings of SLSA’s National Surf Safety Report, which shows that there were no coastal drowning deaths in the 0 to 9 age group category in 2003-04;

Most surf-beach swimmers claim to follow each safety practice “at least some of the time.

However, given the very high proportions who consider these practices to be important, it is interesting to note that for some of these safety practices, there is a substantially lower number who claim to follow the practice “all of the time.

These include:

• Using sunscreen and wearing a hat;
• Swimming between the flags;
• Checking for safety signs posted on the beach;
• Swimming at a patrolled beach;
• Avoid running and diving when entering the water;
• Checking surf conditions with a surf lifesaver.

– Many of the surf-safety practices are given less importance by males and younger surf-beach swimmers (aged 18-34) and are also less likely to be followed “all of the time. This difference appears in either opinion or behaviour for each of the following safety practices:

• Swimming between the flags;
• Checking for safety signs posted on the beach;
• Swimming at a patrolled beach;
• Swimming with at least one other person;
• Avoid running and diving when entering the water;
• Avoid swimming straight after a meal; and
• Checking surf conditions with a lifesaver.

Information gained from the DHL Summer Surf Survey is an important tool in providing improved surf lifesaving services around the country and the survey will be conducted at regular intervals in the future to monitor any significant changes in public awareness and behaviour.

* This survey was conducted by Newspoll in November 2004 by telephone among 1,200 Australians nationally.