Our safety advice covers a broad range of water activities to help keep you safe at the coast.
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Water safety
Learn how you can keep you and your loved ones safe at the coast and in the water with advice from the RNLI’s water safety experts.
Heading to the coast or out on the water is a great way to have fun and stay active. But, if you're not careful, it's a lot easier to get into trouble in the water than you might think. Conditions can change quickly and if you're not prepared, you can easily get caught out.
We've collected all our advice here, so you can find the information you need. Whether you're going to the beach, exploring the coast, or venturing out onto the water, we have the sea safety advice to help you stay safe.
Float to Live
If you get in trouble in the water – float to live. Lean back, extend your arms and legs and control your breathing. Then call for help. Share this skill with friends and family – it could save their life.
Choose your activity
Thinking of going kayaking? Angling? Surfing? Or even just heading to the coast for a walk? Learn how to have fun and stay safe in the water and at the beach. Our sea safety experts have created activity guides covering a wide range of watersports and hobbies, so you can prepare yourself properly for the challenges of your chosen activity.
Know the risks
The sea can be a great place to have fun and relax, but it can also be a dangerous place. Being aware of the potential dangers can prevent you from getting into danger before it happens. Read our water safety guides and know how to spot hazards at the coast and in the water so you don’t get caught out.
223 people die by accident at our coasts per year
10,734 people aided by lifeboat crews in 2023
15+ Males over the age of 15 (INCLUDING OVER 60) are most at risk
19,979 PEOPLE AIDED BY LIFEGUARDS IN 2023
Cold water shock
If you fall unexpectedly in the water you could suffer from cold water shock. Would you know what to do?
Beach safety
The UK and Ireland are home to some beautiful beaches, ideal for a day out. But they can also be dangerous if you don’t know what to do in an emergency, especially if there are no RNLI lifeguards around. Read our beach safety tips and find out how to keep you and your loved ones safe at the seaside.
How to stay safe at the coast
It's easier than you think to get into trouble at the coast. Get to grips with the common risk factors and find out how to minimise them.
The risk factors
The coast is a wonderful place to be, but the sea can be dangerous and unpredictable. If you’re heading to the coast, take a look at our advice and tips to help you have fun and stay safe.
Stay safe
Would you know what to do if you got into difficulty in the water? Float by following these five simple steps – it could save your life.
Learn to float
You can count on the RNLI in an emergency. But we can help you avoid getting into trouble in the first place too. Take advantage of our free safety advice.
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Choosing the right lifejacket or buoyancy aid for your activity can be difficult. With many different options to choose from and technical language that can be confusing, you might end up using something unsuitable, or worse, not using one at all.
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Do you know who to call in an emergency? Do you have the right equipment? Whether you’re at the coast, on the water, or further out to sea, we have everything you need to know so you can call for help in an emergency.
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If you got into trouble in the water, would you know what to do? What about if it was someone you care about in danger? Find out how to keep you and your loved ones safe with the RNLI.
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Find out about free summer Swim Safe sessions for children aged 7-14 years with the RNLI and Swim England.
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Language shouldn’t be a barrier to getting our safety messages out to the diverse communities across the UK and Ireland. Here are some translated safety resources, to reach as many people as we can in our mission to save lives at sea.
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Every year, around 400 people drown in the seas and inland waters of the UK, and these tragic accidents happen all year round. Take part in our free throw bag training to make sure you and your staff know how to keep people safe by the water.
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Got a question, feedback or need some guidance? Our Water Safety Support Team is here to help.
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