If you’re taking the kids to the beach for the day it’s important to be prepared and cautious.

Things to check off when at the beach:

1. Choose a beach that is patrolled with lifeguards and red and yellow flags.

2. Educate your children to put their hand up so that the lifeguards can see them if they feel unsafe in the water.

3. Swim between the flags and obey all safety signs.

4. Swim or play in the shallow waves together.

5. Look out for and avoid blue bottles washed up on the sand. And if there are bluebottles on the sand there could be bluebottles in the water.

6. When digging into the sand and making sandcastles, watch for any rubbish that might have been left behind by previous beach goers.

7. Wear sunscreen and reapply every two hours.

8. Don’t swim out too deep if you aren’t a confident swimmer.

9. Always watch your children. As much as it’s nice to read a book and lay out, kids can be missed if they go under water for even a second.

Take floaties for smaller children to wear.