Always ask a lifeguard about a beach's specific safety concerns.

Most public beaches employ lifeguards who are specially trained to deal with any number of emergencies. But since beachgoers usually outnumber lifeguards by a very large margin, it's up to everyone in or near the water to help the pros do their job by knowing and following basic safety rules. Unseen or unexpected dangers like underwater hazards, powerful waves and strong currents can be serious safety risks, and knowing how to handle them can save lives, including your own.

Southern California native Garth Canning has been a lifeguard for 24 years, and has worked on all of the area's beaches, from Zuma to San Pedro. Over the course of his career, Canning has been a training officer, CPR instructor and Lifeguard Academy instructor. He currently serves as the Community Services Captain for the LA County Fire Department Lifeguard Division. Here he offers basic safety tip to help ensure a fun, emergency-free day at the beach:

• Ask a lifeguard about the area.
  When you arrive at the beach, ask the lifeguard about safe and unsafe areas of the water. Ask if there are any hazards or dangerous areas that you should avoid, and always remember to stay away from piers, rocks, and jetties.
  
• Never swim alone.
  According to Canning, it's never a good idea to swim alone. Always swim with a buddy who can assist you if you encounter problems or go for help in the case of an emergency.
  
• Always face the waves, and don't fight them.
  When swimming in the ocean, you should never to turn your back to the waves. Waves carry a lot of energy, and can be damaging if they hit you or knock you to the ground. Also remember that if you're out in deeper water and the surf is large, it's much easier for you to duck under a wave than it is to try to jump up above it and fight it.
  
• Swim parallel to rip currents.
  You want to avoid spots where the water is brown and sandy, as these could be rip currents. A rip current or riptide is a body of water moving away from the beach. If you're caught in a riptide, don't swim against it, as this can be like running on a treadmill. Instead, swim parallel to shore until you're out of it, and then move in towards the beach.

For more information about beach and swimming safety, check out the following organizations or websites:

American Red Cross: Water Safety Tips
www.redcross.org/services/hss/tips/healthtips/safetywater

National Safety Council: Think Safety at the Swimming Pool and Beach
www.nsc.org/pubs/fsh/archive/summr99/pool

United States Lifesaving Association
www.usla.org/index

Global Lifeguards
globallifeguards.org/oceansafety

California Junior Lifeguards: Ocean Safety
www.jrlifeguards.com/ospage1

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