The sun is out in Ireland, and you might be thinking of a beach day out with the kids. While a trip to the sea is often a fun family day out, it is important to be vigilant at all times especially when kids are near water.
While filling the car with buckets and spades to play in the sand is a summer ritual, coastguards are urging parents to be careful when their kids are digging.
The seemingly harmless activity can prove dangerous in some cases.
Speaking to Metro, senior coastal Operations officer Allan Norman, at HM Coastguard, explained: ‘While buckets and spades are a lot of fun, most of us wouldn’t dream of digging a 5ft deep hole at a park where youngsters are running about and people walk in the evening.
‘It’s the same at busy beaches: deep holes can be hard to spot in the sand and pose the risk of someone falling in and being injured, particularly little children and older people.’
They are keen for parents to make sure your children avoid digging large holes in the sand, as doing so can cause injury and, in extreme cases, suffocation.
There is a danger of the sand collapsing on top of people, causing injury and in rare cases, suffocation. While many parents are conscious of their kids while playing in the sea, people likely don’t realise that the sand can be just as dangerous.
Like Ireland, the UK is experiencing warm weather at the moment although temperatures are noticeably higher with an ongoing heatwave.
While this warning originated in the UK, it’s important for all parents to be aware of any advice given by coastguard experts.
