Experts keep an eye on children on the beach

Child safety advice on the beach

08/07/2012

The tragedy surrounding the death of the ten-year-old boy on Amrum makes it clear that supposedly harmless playing areas can sometimes pose deadly risks. The boy had probably dug a deep hole in the sand and was then spilled in it.

More safety for children
Experts of the Federal Working Community (BAG) have pointed to possible dangers when playing on the beach. The project manager of the BAG, Inke Ruhe, emphasized that parents should always keep their children in the sand while playing in order to avoid dangerous situations. As such, "to understand the laying in a self-dug hole". Because the children could be spilled, as it was according to previous knowledge the ten-year Sebastian on Amrum.

Keep children in mind
According to the experts, sand as a playground for children is quite well suited and not classified as dangerous. According to Inke Ruhe, sand is in principle „a good foundation and cushions crash much better than a hard ground.“ However, parents should keep a few potential risks in mind, as unattended beach play can present significant risks. For example, it is particularly important that the children keep digging enough distance to the waterline, because „If the tide comes, it can easily happen that the children are circled like on an island“, warned the project manager of the BAG. In addition, there is a risk that shards or other objects (eg cigarette butts) are in the sand and are plugged or swallowed by smaller children in the mouth. Therefore, the parents should run off the play area before the Buddelspaß and check for potentially dangerous items, according to the expert for child safety.

Check playgrounds on the beach
According to the expert, parents at playgrounds on the beach should check the playground equipment before use because they are "more susceptible to corrosion by sand and moisture" than at playgrounds in the city. Rusty or squeaky device here are a warning signal. However, the greatest danger in the playground is usually not from the play equipment itself, but from falls, such as the climbing frame, explained the BAG expert However, it was „completely counterproductive of being close all the time and telling the child 'I catch you'“, keep calm. Because in this way the child is denounced and does not learn to assess his own ability. Instead, Child Safety Expert recommends parents give their child time to explore their own strengths. Because with a good assessment of your own abilities reduces the risk of injury. (Fp)

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Picture: Elisabeth Erbe