Page 11 - Demo

July 2025 | Gazette Life | 11The shallow, sheltered natural lagoon at Calet%u00f3n Blanco.WATER WISDOM Our advice for staying safe in and around water on Lanzarote.BEACHES AND COASTS%u2022 Pay attention to warning flags on flagged beaches:%u2022 Green: Bathing conditions are safe. Normal precautions should still be taken, but there is nothing out of the ordinary to worry about. %u2022 Yello Bathers should be cautious. Swimming is permitted but bathers are advised to pay attention to lifeguards, take special care of children and not go out of their depth. %u2022 Red: Swimming is dangerous and not advised. On some Canarian beaches, swimmers can be fined for bathing while a red flag is flying, although this is not the case on Lanzarote yet. On Famara, a red flag is permanently hoisted. %u2022 Check for weather warnings at www.aemet.es/en/ We also publish warnings at www.gazettelife.com. %u2022 On Lanzarote, think twice about bathing in most areas on the north and east coasts. Apart from a few protected places such as the lagoon at La Santa or Calet%u00f3n Blanco, the entire coast from Playa Blanca to Arrieta has unpredictable and frequently very dangerous bathing conditions. %u2022 Swim with a partner if possible. %u2022 Take extra care on unflagged beaches, especially if you do not know them. Extreme caution is always the best approach. %u2022 Stay well clear of buoys and roped off areas Do not swim too close to rocks %u2022 If swimming in open water, keep a constant look-out for boats or other craft. Regular open water swimmers should get a signal safety buoy. %u2022 Don%u2019t swim when drunk or under the influence of drugs. You can go after eating a light meal, though %u2013 the warnings against this are old wives%u2019 tales. %u2022 If you use a beach regularly, find out where lifesaving equipment such as floats and defibrillators is located. Walkers should stay on coastal paths and avoid wet rocks at the sea%u2019s edge. Stick to dry rocks and be aware that rocks can be extremely slippery below the tideline. If wading near rocks, watch out for sea urchins. The only other animal that may bother you is a jellyfish, but they are rarely seen in large numbers. POOLS%u2022 Supervise children at all times.%u2022 Discourage horseplay and running around.%u2022 Avoid bathing after drinking. %u2022 Follow the pool rules at all times.%u2022 Pool owners should ensure pools are safely covered when not in use.