Cigarette butts biggest polluter of environment

Volunteer lifeguards Andrew Turner and Rhett Russell hope beach-goers heed warnings, swim between the flags and make their jobs much easier this summer.

NEW reports by Surf Life Saving Australia suggest that despite many Australians growing up near the water more than 30 per cent of beach-goers will not be swimming between the flags this summer. The recent drowning of an elderly German tourist at Bulli Beach serves as a timely reminder for everyone to increase their beach smarts. SLSA lifesaving manager Ben Whibley said this included a need for beachgoers to be educated in all the dangers of visiting the beach. "I'm not just talking about rips, but also jellyfish, sunburn and knowing your own swimming ability," Mr Whibley said. "People have to keep in mind the surf is very powerful and conditions can change quickly," he said.

In an effort to increase local surf safety awareness, Surf Life Saving Illawarra, in conjunction with local clubs, has implemented a number of surf safe strategies ranging from the recent Surf Safe Summer Campaign to the Momentum Program in which the University of Wollongong's International students were educated in the importance of surf safety. Illawarra Surf Life Saving's Amanda Scott said greater emphasis must be placed on educating international guests as well as Australian residents and headed calls for compulsory surf-lifesaving briefings on all international flights.

To the credit of the initiative of local surf-lifesaving organisations, only one drowning has been recorded in the Illawarra this summer, despite a survey showing many Australians were unaware of the common risks associated with the beach.

The alarming figures suggest that fewer than 30 per cent of respondents knew how to recognise a rip or fewer still knew what to do if they were caught in a rip. "The sad fact is that rips are involved in many of these drownings, so it is important that people know how to recognise one and, most importantly, what to do if you find yourself caught in one," Mr Whibley said. "We are increasingly learning that one of the main reasons people get into trouble is they underestimate the surf conditions and overestimate their ability." With only 68 per cent of Aussies planning to use a patrolled beach during summer, Illawarra Surf Life Saving's Amanda Scott urged beachgoers to stick to swimming between the flags. "Surf-lifesavers are out there for a reason," Ms Scott said. "Beachgoers need to listen to the advice of these seasoned professionals and take advantage of the service they provide to the community."