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BOSAI: Be Prepared.

Our topic this time is "Seaside Safety."

Many of Japan's beaches are opened up for swimming in July.

A day at the beach can be a lot of fun, but water accidents occur every year,

and the number involving foreigners is increasing.

In this episode, Mincao from Vietnam shares with us some basic knowledge on how to ensure safety in the water.

Hello, everyone.

This is Mincao speaking from a popular beach near Tokyo.

Today we're going to discuss "Beach Safety."

So join us as we get ready for your beach day to ensure that your trip will not just be fun but also safe.

So, lets go!

Our instructor today is Ishikawa Toshinori from the Japan Lifesaving Association.

In Vietnam, we have lots of beaches and rivers, but many people don't take swimming lessons.

Could you please teach us how to have fun safely in the ocean?

Sure. It's my pleasure!

First, we'll learn what to do as soon as we arrive at the beach.

Before going into the water, carry out some careful observation.

How often do the big waves come and what is their size when they break?

These points should be closely checked.

For example, when you're in the sea, even if you get a few big waves,

it's important to be able to presume that they will change to smaller waves in a short time.

The flow away from the beach generated when waves break, and the energy of the breaking,

creates a 'rip current,' a current going out to sea.

Rip currents develop daily on any seashore.

They can flow as fast as 2 meters per second.

Many drowning accidents occur every year in which people are swept away from the shore without realizing it and then panic.

Rip currents account for about half of all sea accidents, even in Japan.

This is not only true in Japan, but also in Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom,

where accidents caused by rip currents are the most common.

Are rip currents easy to spot?

No, it's quite difficult.

We can see one just over there.

There are no waves.

Right. No waves, and the surface looks disturbed.

Oh, it looks like rain.

Now, there is a strong rip current out there.

Where rip currents occur, it becomes harder for the waves to break than in the surrounding area,

and because of the sand being rolled up the color of the water is a little brownish.

Trash from the beach may be carried out, and the surface will look a little disturbed.

Now, if we look at the foreshore, you can see the shoreline is slightly indented toward the landward side.

Rip currents are more likely to occur where it's indented.

So should we swim between the indented areas?

Yes. The best way to prevent accidents is to go in the water where the shoreline is not indented toward the landward side.

It's hard to tell, so what should we do?

Yes, it's quite difficult for ordinary people to tell.

That's why, at beaches where there are lifesavers, red and yellow flags like these are used to indicate the recommended swimming area.

Flags like this mean you're requested to swim in the area between them.

Other flags resemble traffic signals.

Blue ones indicate swimming is allowed.

Yellow ones mean care should be taken.

And red ones indicate no swimming is allowed.

At beaches with lifesavers, flags like these are displayed in addition to the flags indicating swimming areas.

What do you think this indicates?

Oh, I have no idea.

This is called a tsunami flag.

When a tsunami warning is issued, this flag is waved in a big motion on the beach to urge everyone to leave the water and evacuate immediately.

If you see it being waved while in the water, please come out and hurry to a safe place at once.

But what should you do if you are suddenly swept away by a rip current?

Even if you are carried out by a rip current, it won't take you all the way to the horizon.

Ah, I see!

What will happen, in fact, is that just a bit beyond where those waves are now breaking, the rip current will weaken.

So the most important thing is not to panic.

Remain in a position where you can breathe, and when the rip current's gone, move on to the next action.

And what should we do next?

The red arrows here indicate the rip current.

You should give up any attempt to return to the shore by swimming against the rip current.

Instead, swim at an angle like this to get away from the rip current.

This is how to return to shore if you're a good swimmer.

If you're not a confident swimmer, after being swept out until the rip current weakens,

swim a little way parallel to the shore and then ride in with the waves.

The width of a rip current is generally somewhere between 10 and 30 meters.

It's important that you remember to get away from the current without panicking.

In addition, places with concrete structures are prone to generate rip currents.

In places where there are breakwaters or rocky areas in the sea,

rip currents may constantly occur, so you need to be careful.

Does the wind affect swimming?

Well, when a wind is blowing from the beach side, you can easily be swept away if you're swimming with a float.

But don't try chasing after the float if it drifts away.

Just secure your own safety.

Whenever there's the danger of falling into the water, such as when playing with floats, you should wear a life jacket.

This is a life jacket.

It's important to make sure to wear one that fits your size.

If you go in the water wearing one too large, the life jacket will move.

You secure the life jacket to your body by closing the front zip and then pulling the belts on both sides.

If the belts are loosely fastened, the life jacket might float away from your body.

So, as it has two more belts, coming out from behind, you pull them between your legs and fasten them here.

Bring the belts at the back forward and fix them tightly to fit your body.

Now you are wearing it correctly.

However, wearing a life jacket won't guarantee safety 100%.

Also, never take your eyes off children, even when they are wearing a life jacket.

Now, I would like to show you how to wait for help if you are swept away by a current.

Lifesaver Mr. Sato, will demonstrate.

Thank you very much.

If you're wearing a life jacket, hold it firmly around your neck like this.

Then wait with your upper body in an upright position with your arms tightly by your sides.

In this position, you can see all around you, and it also helps to keep your body warm.

This is the basic waiting posture when you're wearing a life jacket.

Next is how to call for rescue.

Waving widely with one hand is the "help signal."

If you feel even a little uneasy, use this signal to ask for help from a lifesaver.

Until a lifesaver arrives, please stay floating like this, in a position in which you can breathe.

But remember it's not easy to stay afloat in the ocean in just a bathing suit.

Especially when there are waves like today, you may get water on your face and start to panic.

So, in that sense too, a life jacket is extremely effective.

In Japan, there are about 220 beaches where lifesavers are active.

They are not only there as rescuers.

You can also ask them,

"How is the sea today?,"

and they will gladly give you information so that you can enjoy a safe day at the beach.

Well, they say, "Knowledge is power,"

but today I also learned that "Knowledge saves lives."

Thank you very much.