Beach safety in Lanzarote
Beaches throughout the island differ greatly due to tides and currents, some are more suited to sports than swimming. If you are visiting a beach in Lanzarote that you are not familiar with we recommend you do some simple research in advance, look for it on google, ask locals etc.
We’ve put together some basic beach safety advice so you can enjoy our great beaches without incident. The major beaches have lifeguards however some of the smaller, more remote beaches don’t.
Know your flags
Before swimming look at the flags on the beach.
Red = swimming is prohibited (never disregard this flag, you may not be able to see the danger but there will be one whether it’s strong currents or simply too rough)
Yellow = use caution when swimming
Green = conditions are good for swimming
Suncare
Protect yourself from the sun and heat, apply suncream regularly and cover up as appropriate. Avoid peak sunlight hours (12.00 – 16:00). Even when it’s cloudy UV levels are high.
Children & the elderly
Never leave children or the elderly unattended, they are the most susceptible sunstroke and heat exhaustion as a result of excessive exposure to the sun. Apply suncream regularly, make sure they cover up if you see they are catching too much sun and try to provide some shade for them to relax in.
Hydrate
If you are going to be out in the sun for a long period of time remember to drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated to avoid feeling unwell or even a trip to the hospital. Alochol and the sun and sea are not a good mix, so drinking should be avoided.
Respect other beach users
Many of the beaches in Lanzarote are used for swimming and watersports. It is import to respect parts of the beach that are sectioned off for other activities to avoid injury.
Inflatables
Whilst much fun can be had with inflatables they are designed for use in swimming pools and can pose a risk when used at the beach. You can drift out to sea or swept out to sea so be very cautious if you plan to use them.
If you run into trouble or see anyone else in trouble in the water, try to throw them a float device to hold onto and call 112.
