Swimming and the beach: health and safety advice

You've ticked off the day: towel, cool bag, sunscreen, and the urge to dive in as soon as the sand gets too hot. But a relaxed swim doesn't quite organise itself. From one beach to the next, water quality varies, the sun doesn't warn you when it's burning too hard, and the sand sometimes hides real hazards. Here's what to know before you put on your swimsuit.

What we know about your beach's water

In the UK, bathing water quality is monitored throughout the bathing season. Approved laboratories take and analyse samples, co-ordinated by the Environment Agency in England, Natural Resources Wales, SEPA in Scotland and DAERA in Northern Ireland. Results are passed to local authorities and published. You can check them beach by beach on Swimfo for England, or through the relevant regulator's website for the devolved nations — and ask your local council if anything is unclear.

In practice, current data suggest that two neighbouring coves can have very different ratings. After heavy rain, runoff washes soil and sewage systems into the sea: it's better to wait 24 to 48 hours before getting back in. Avoid swimming right next to a pipe discharging onto the beach.

Shallow, clear turquoise water over a pale sandy bottom, seen from above in bright midday sun
Clear water says nothing about its safety for swimming

Sun: cover up before you chase a tan

What we know: sunburn caught in childhood and adolescence is a recognised risk factor for skin cancer later on. And no cream makes up for long exposure.

In practice, avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm, seek shade, and put clothing first: UV-protective top, wide-brimmed hat, CE-marked sunglasses. Sunscreen comes as a supplement, never as the first line. Choose a high factor, SPF 50+, apply it generously every two hours and after every swim, even if the tube claims water resistance.

For babies under one, keep them in the shade and speak to a health professional before applying any product. Remember to drink water regularly, and avoid alcohol in the sun. Headache, nausea, dizziness after long exposure? Move to shade, cool down with water, and if the person is confused, call 999.

Young woman in the shade of a parasol, wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and UV-protective top, sunscreen in hand
Clothing first, cream second: the right order in the sun

Shellfish gathering, tar and sand

Fancy collecting shellfish? Check local advice before you go: some areas are closed by local authorities because shellfish can concentrate toxic algae and chemical pollutants. Recreational shellfish gathering is regulated, not a right.

If you find oil or tar on your skin, remove it with a cooking oil, then soap and water. Skip petrol and solvents, which damage the skin.

As for sand, busy beaches are cleaned regularly, but that doesn't mean you can ignore a few rules: take your litter home and respect areas where dogs are not allowed.

Swimming: the habits that matter

Every summer, people drown around the UK coast, and most deaths happen outside lifeguarded areas, or because a child slipped out of sight for a few moments.

So swim in lifeguarded areas and check the flags. Keep young children within arm's reach, and equip non-swimmers with armbands or a buoyancy aid that meets EN 13138. On many UK coasts, beware of rip currents, the fast-moving channels that pull away from the shore: if you're caught in one, don't fight it, float, swim parallel to the beach and signal for help.

On the way home, rinse with fresh water to remove salt, sand and sunscreen residue. And let your swimsuit dry rather than keeping it damp all day.

On a beach you don't know, take two minutes: flag, signs, lifeguard station, water quality results. If in doubt — cloudy water, red flag, a posted ban — don't swim. Doubt is never a good reason to risk it.

Budget

Three purchases come up again and again, and the price differences are real.

  • SPF 50+ sunscreen: expect around £8 to £20 for 200 ml in a pharmacy or beauty retailer, more like £5 to £12 in a supermarket, and often £15 to £30 for organic formulas sold in beauty halls or online. The price depends on the type of filter, the size and the certification.
  • UV-protective clothing: in the region of £15 to £40 for a child's top or all-in-one, with a stated UPF rating. This is the purchase that protects best per pound spent.
  • Sunglasses: from around £15. Check the CE marking and the filter category — category 3 for the beach, category 4 reserved for high mountains and offshore.

Where to find them? Pharmacy and beauty retailers for creams and advice, sports shops or supermarkets for clothing, organic beauty retailers and online shops for certified ranges.

If you're looking for an alternative, a mineral filter (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) is a useful marker: chemical filters such as oxybenzone and octinoxate are subject to restrictions in some protected marine areas. A label such as Cosmos Organic sets rules for the share of natural and organic ingredients — it's a formulation marker, not proof that the product is harmless to marine life. The trade-off: a mineral filter often leaves a white film and spreads less easily. As for end of life, tubes are still mostly plastic and recycle poorly: choose a format that empties completely and see if a refill exists.

Sources

  • Environment Agency — bathing water quality and pollution risk forecasts (Swimfo)
  • Natural Resources Wales, SEPA and DAERA — bathing water quality in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
  • RNLI — beach and water safety, including rip current advice
  • NHS — sun safety and heat exhaustion
  • Met Office — UV index forecast
  • Food Standards Agency and Cefas — shellfish hygiene and biotoxin monitoring
  • Local authorities — beach cleaning and dog restrictions

Food supplements do not replace a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.