Staying safe on holiday

Holidays are meant to be a break from everyday stress and demands, aren’t they? So the last thing you need is to be worrying about things going wrong.

But if you want your holiday to be memorable for the right reasons, it’s worth taking the time to plan and do your research.

This is even more important if you’ve got fun, adrenaline-fuelled water sports on your agenda. If you leave plans until the last minute, you could end up using dodgy holiday operators who care more about making money than keeping you safe. Sadly, British tourists have died because of operators’ lax attitudes to safety.

Our top tips for holiday safety

Here's our guide to water sports safety on holiday:

Check safety standards for swimming

Safety standards around pools and on beaches vary around the world. For example, red flags (which tell you not to swim) aren’t used in all countries. The term ‘lifeguard’ means different things in different places. So, before you go on holiday, be sure to check local safety advice and what services will be on offer in an emergency.

Keep children safe near and in the water

Always supervise children near the water, especially young children.
Learn first aid so that you can resuscitate your child in an emergency.
Teach your child never to swim alone.
Find out in advance if the hotel pool has a lifeguard. Even if it does, you should always know where your child is and what they’re doing in the water.
Choose pools that are fenced with locking gates. Be on high alert if you’re renting a villa with no fencing around the pool.
If your child has the chance to have swimming lessons while you’re on holiday, grab it! Lessons are a great way to gain water confidence and learn vital water safety skills.
Remember that inflatables won’t keep your child safe. They’re not a substitute for supervision or swimming ability.
Teach your child -
not to dive into unknown depths of water
to jump feet first into water.
not to push or jump onto others
where to get help in an emergency

Choose the right operator

If you’ve got time, check how a water sports centre is run before making a booking. You may want to listen to your gut and move on if you see anything that worries you. And remember that one-person operations are best avoided.

Here’s what to look for in a trustworthy water sports operator:

Strong safety procedures

Ask yourself the following questions. If the answer to any of them is no, we’d advise you to think twice before making a booking.

Is the centre well-staffed, with an alert observer? This person is vital as they will be watching the activity on the water and will act in an emergency.
Is there safety equipment at the base, like binoculars and a first aid kit?
Is there a look-out, as well as a driver, in the towing boat to watch the parasailer, water-skier or the people on towed inflatables?
Does the boat driver wear a lifejacket? Do they use a 'kill cord' to cut the engine in an emergency? If they don’t, there could be trouble if they fall overboard while swerving.
Is there a dedicated safety craft like a boat or jet-ski and a member of staff to drive it that can be used to rescue someone in trouble? Does it have binoculars and a first aid kit?
Is there good communication (like a VHF radio) between observers at the base and the driver or look-out on the boat?

Robust administration and safety briefings

A good waters ports operator should always ask you for key personal details. They should take your name, contact details, where you're staying and any relevant medical conditions. These should be recorded in case of an accident.

You should also be asked if you are confident in the water and you should be given a full safety briefing.

If you're renting a jet-ski, you should be asked for ID and proof of your age. Ideally you should also be asked about relevant training or qualifications.

Good-quality equipment

Sun, sand and salty seawater can destroy water sports kit. A well-run water sports centre will take care of its equipment. They will routinely rinse it in fresh water and store it out of the sun.

Remember that a sun-bleached, sand-scuffed lifejacket with hard or crumbling foam pads won’t perform properly. And a fraying, sand-encrusted towline could snap at any moment.

Essentially, if an operator can’t look after their equipment, are they going to be able to look after you? Having said that, shiny new kit alone doesn’t guarantee a safe operator.

Lifejackets for everyone

Whatever the activity, you should always be given a lifejacket or buoyancy aid.

It should fit properly. If it’s too small, it won’t give you enough buoyancy. If it’s too big, it will float up around your ears in the water, making it harder for you to breathe. It could also hamper you when you’re climbing back on board.

Clearly marked areas for the activity

It’s vital that your operator keeps you safe from other water sports happening at the same time. They should have a clearly buoyed lane for launching. They should also have a buoyed operating area big enough to keep you away from other water users and to prevent other water users straying into your path.

Safety tips for specific water sports

Parasailing

Good-quality kit is vital, whether you're launched from the beach, a pontoon or a winch boat. Old and worn canopies and rigging may cause a fatal accident. Harnesses not fitting properly, problems with parachutes stalling and towlines snapping in strong winds can also cause accidents.

Good take-off and landing techniques are essential, so take time to watch the operator in action first to check their expertise. If an operator makes a mess of their flights by dragging passengers along or making them run before getting airborne, avoid them. If you’re launching from a beach, the operator should provide two assistants, along with a driver and a spotter in the boat.

Towed inflatable rides

Towed inflatable rides are lots of fun. You might choose a 'banana', where you sit astride the inflatable, or a 'ringo' – a large ring shaped like a doughnut. Both types of ride are towed by a powered boat. Don’t forget that these rides come with their own risks, so you should always be provided with a lifejacket and protective headgear.

Watch out for drivers whipping the inflatable round in a sharp curve – you’ll probably get tipped off. A good operator won’t tip you off onto top of other passengers and will quickly retrieve you if you fall in.

Jet-skiing

Also known as ‘personal watercraft’ or PWCs, jet-skis are lots of fun. But if they’re not used safely they can be a huge nuisance to other water users and, at worst, cause serious injuries and fatalities. Most accidents occur through collisions with other jet skis or watercraft, crashing into jetties, piers or rocks and failing to avoid swimmers.

Different countries have different laws around jet-skis, so be sure to check the law for the country you’re visiting before you go.

Kitesurfing

Before you begin to kitesurf you must be a competent swimmer, hold third party insurance and have had kitesurfing lessons.

You should be provided with a helmet, lifejacket, kite leash and a quick release harness system.

Make sure your operator has an area away from congestion for the use of kite surfers. You should be at least 50m downwind or upwind from other craft or vessels. You should be well away from bathing areas, swimmers, buoys and boat moorings.

Make sure you’re familiar with rescue signals. Carry a hook knife in case you need to cut the flying line and a flare if you need to attract attention.

Water-skiing

If you're new to water-skiing, you’ll need some tuition before you have a go. Even if you know what you're doing, the driver can't drive the boat and watch you at the same time, so make sure there’s a trained look-out in the boat.

Windsurfing

A trustworthy operator will have observers on the beach, a dedicated safety craft and good communication between staff – preferably by VHF radio. It’s really important to make sure that the operator can provide a secure uphaul. Be on high alert for old equipment, torn sails, and frayed, well-worn rigging ropes.

What to do in an emergency

Call the local emergency services (the country’s equivalent of 999). Make sure you’ve found these out before you go on holiday.

You can find travel advice for different countries on the Gov.UK website.

Health and Safety Membership

RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders