With the holiday season coming up the The National Sea Rescue Institute has urged beachgoers to only go to beaches that have life guards on standby.

BE CAREFUL

NSRI's Bradley Seaton-Smith said beach goers need to be vigilant and not take risks when it comes to taking a swim at the beach.

He said life guards will be responsible for 65 beaches in the country to avoid any tragedies.

"Rip currents pose a real danger and can easily catch you off guard and pull you into deeper water. Lifeguards are trained to spot these danger zones and guide beachgoers on where to enjoy the water safely," said Seaton-Smith.

AVOID ALCOHOL

He also urged those who will be visiting the beaches to avoid drinking alcohol as it is one of the leading factors that cause people to drown.

"Drowning fatalities are, most of the time, caused by beachgoers who drink alcohol and then want to go for a swim. It's a risk not only to their own lives but the lives of others as well," he said.

He said people can go the extra mile and learn how to do CPR as an additional safety measure. 

"There are many other ways you can keep yourself and others safe, such as by learning how to do bystander CPR, making sure you know to call 112 in an emergency, or having the NRSI emergency number (087 094 9774) saved in your phone before you go to the beach," said Seaton-Smith.