Hartlepool chiefs put together 13 tips to help families keep safe at the seaside as the summer holidays get underway

Hartlepool Borough Council has issued a thank you to residents and visitors for continuing to use the area’s beaches as safely as possible in recent weeks as the lockdown has eased.

Its beach lifeguards will again be patrolling Seaton Carew and the Headland’s Fish Sands throughout the summer holiday period until Tuesday, September 1.

Debbie Kershaw, the council’s quality and safety officer, who oversees the beaches and lifeguards, said: “Help us to help you have a fun day out.

"Please remember your social distancing at all times and follow our other simple rules to stay safe at the seaside.”

The council has put together 13 tips to help people have a safe visit to our coastline:

Remember social distancing – keep your distance from people not in your household and two metres apart wherever possible; Follow any safety advice lifeguards give and take note of beach safety signs; Swim where the lifeguards patrol – within the areas marked by the red and yellow marker flags; Never go into the water when the red flags are flying – it means it is not safe; Be aware of incoming tides; Never leave children unattended; Don’t use inflatables in the sea – tides, currents and wind can easily carry you far away from the shore; Waves are very powerful – avoid piers, slipways and promenades when the sea conditions are rough; Think before you dive – be careful at any time and on no account dive into water with which you are not familiar – there may be hidden dangers such as rocks, currents or insufficient depth; Never swim on your own – have someone on hand in case you get into any difficulties; If you see someone in difficulty in the sea, don’t enter the water – summon a lifeguard or call 999 and ask for the Coastguard; Remember that the sun can burn your skin; Keep the beaches clean – dispose of all your rubbish properly, especially glass bottles, cans and other sharp object;

The council has also signposted people to Resuscitation Council UK’s advice for people performing CPR in an out-of-hospital setting during the current Covid-19 situation.

A message from the editor:

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to the Hartlepool Mail website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit here to sign up. You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here. Thank you.