Latest news with #sandholes
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Coastguard warns to fill sand holes dug at beaches
Islanders are being reminded by the Coastguard to fill any large holes they dig in the sand at the beach before Coastguard said digging holes posed "a safety risk" to others and could end in a month, the UK Coastguard said a teenager had been "extremely lucky" not to have suffocated after being buried 7ft (about 2m) deep in said: "These holes can collapse without warning, potentially trapping or injuring people. There have been tragic incidents in the UK, including fatalities, where individuals were buried under sand after holes collapsed." The Coastguard added the holes could become dangerous when left unattended or "obscured by shifting tides"."Our advice is to be respectful of other beach users and always fill in any holes you have dug before leaving the beach," it said.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What to Know About Sand Holes Before Going to the Beach
Fact checked by Sarah Scott When you think about the risks of going to the beach with kids, you probably think about drowning, which is the top cause of death for children aged 1 to 4. You might also be concerned about dangers like jellyfish, rip currents, lightning, or sharks. But there's one danger that some parents might not be aware of: sand holes. Though quite rare, death from a collapsing sand hole is actually more common than death from a shark attack. Digging holes in the sand is something that most of us fondly remember doing when we were young, and want our kids to be able to enjoy. The problem is that sometimes sand holes collapse, and when a sand hole collapses on a child, it can become extremely difficult to escape. 'If a sand hole collapses, the dangers imposed to young children include getting buried in the hole and suffocating,' explains Danielle Curitore, MD, pediatrician with Providence St. Joseph Hospital. This is scary to think about or consider. But knowledge is power. Sand hole collapse is preventable—and it doesn't mean your child can never play in the sand again. Here, we'll go over everything you need to know about the dangers of sand holes, how to prevent sand hole collapse, and how to stay safe while playing in the sand. So, why exactly do sand holes collapse? It has to do with what happens when a large amount of wet sand dries, explains Jacob Snow, pediatric emergency medicine physician at Pediatrix Medical Group in Las Vegas, NV. When sand is wet, it's easy to stick together and can be easily molded to whatever shape you want. But once the sand dries, it no longer can hold that shape and will collapse under its own weight, Dr. Snow explains. 'When a parent or child has dug a deep hole into wet sand, it will hold its shape and the integrity of its walls for a while but without realizing it, the walls will dry out and can abruptly collapse,' he describes. The phenomenon of sand hole collapse is actually similar to what most of us have witnessed when a sandcastle we've made dries out and falls apart, says Molly O'Shea, MD, official pediatrician for Goldfish Swim School. 'Sand is stiff when it is wet and as it dries, it loses its ability to stay in place,' Dr. O'Shea explains. 'The deeper a hole is dug, the drier the upper parts of the hole become, risking collapse.' The dangers of sand holes are very serious. 'If a child is in the bottom of a large hole when it collapses, the sand [can] fill every available space, [potentially] compressing the child's chest and making it impossible for them to breathe,' Dr. Snow describes. 'The child can then suffocate, not necessarily because of sand in the airway, but because the weight of the sand makes it impossible to move your chest enough to breathe.' It's also extremely difficult to clear the sand away from a collapsed sand hole. That's because even dry sand is very heavy, says Dr. O'Shea. Not only that, but as you try to rescue the person by removing the sand, more sand falls from the side of the hole, making prompt rescue a long, often losing prospect. At the same time—and this is important to keep in mind—sand hold collapse is very uncommon. 'Parents can breathe a sigh of relief,' Dr. O'Shea assures. 'Sand hole collapse is really rare.' For example, research has found that death from sand hole collapse only occurs about three times per year. 'If you consider the millions of people who are on the beach every season, this is an amazingly small number,' Dr. O'Shea says. Although sand hole collapse is rare, it can and does happen. That's why it's important to know exactly what to do if this happens to your child, or if you are at the beach when it happens to another child. If this happens, you should call 911 immediately, and you should also alert lifeguards, says Dr. Curitore. 'Having additional skilled help from lifeguards and emergency responders is essential as techniques for digging and rescue require specialized training,' he says. Still, while you wait for this help, you should immediately begin digging the sand away from the child, Dr. Snow says. 'You'd want to pull the child all the way out as quickly as possible,' he shares. 'However, it may take time to get them all the way out so it's reasonable to focus on clearing the sand away from the face and chest first as this will allow them to breathe.' Prevention is key when it comes to reducing the risk of sand hole dangers. Here are some safety prevention tips from Dr. Curitore: Always supervise sand play at the beach Don't let your child dig deep holes—a hole should never be deeper than knee-height of the smallest child in your party. Only go to beaches where trained lifeguards are available To keep the beach safe for others, refill any holes you dug before leaving the beach 'By keeping these helpful hints in mind, children can play safely at the beach,' Dr. Curitore assures. Above all, he encourages direct supervision of your children—without distractions such as cell phones—as well as taking safety measures like digging on shallow holes. Again, a sand hole should never be deeper than up to the knees of the youngest child you are with. Following these guidelines will strongly decrease any danger from sand holes, and allow you and your family to enjoy your time at the beach, and make memories to last a lifetime. Read the original article on Parents
