Be Beach Safe

On our Island province you are never far from the ocean and one of our numerous spectacular beaches. From the red sand beaches on the south shore to the white sand beaches on the north shore, Prince Edward Island offers a variety of unique and enjoyable beach experiences.

Enjoying the warm waters surrounding the Island is a very popular activity. To fully enjoy your beach experience please follow these tips:

• always swim in supervised beach areas.
• ensure your children are supervised at all times.
• never swim alone. Always swim with a buddy and watch out for each other.
• do not consume alcohol or drugs before or while swimming. Alcohol and drugs impair your abilities and judgement.
• weaker swimmers and young children should wear a properly-sized life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD) at all times.
• pay close attention to surf conditions. Waves and currents can make water more dangerous than usual.

Swimming in the ocean is very different from swimming in a pool or lake. The strength and force of even small ocean waves can surprise beach goers who are unfamiliar with the power of the sea. When particular surf conditions are present at some of our beaches, rip currents can occur.

Rip currents are powerful and can pull people away from shore. Even the strongest swimmers can get into trouble if caught in a rip current. Do not panic if this happens to you; relax and swim parallel to the shore to get out of the current; then swim back to shore. Do not attempt to swim back to shore against the current; it is too strong. Ask your lifeguard for more information when you arrive at the beach.