成人大片

A new study by a 成人大片 researcher has recommended improvements to beach safety signage, which could prevent drownings in the future.

Dr Masaki Shibata, from the Japanese Department in the School of Social Sciences, examined how current safety signage on beaches is interpreted by both Australian citizens and overseas-born beachgoers.

鈥淎ccording to the National Coastal Safety Report 2022, 939 coastal drowning fatalities were recorded from 2012-2022, almost half of which were overseas-born beachgoers. However, the 939 fatalities were only of people whose birth continent was known, so the total number of drownings is higher,鈥� he said.

Dr Shibata recommends that signs need to be improved by including:

• Messages in the languages of the people who are at most risk of coastal drowning
• Photos, not just symbols, of dangers such as jellyfish to improve messaging for non-English speakers
• Clear explanation of what the hazard is such as poison or sting
• Clearer colour coding: many safety signs are yellow whereas red indicates greatest dangers to many communities

Dr Shibata gathered information from 160 interviews of beachgoers about how they interpreted safety signage at Bondi Beach.

鈥淎pproximately 50 per cent of overseas-born beachgoers and 40 per cent of Australians rarely or never read beach safety signage at beaches they鈥檙e not familiar with,鈥� said Dr Shibata.

鈥淎pproximately half of the overseas-born beachgoers had no understanding of some beach safety terms such as high surf, shore dump, or bluebottle. Not reading the signs, or not understanding them, could have deadly consequences.鈥�

"Not reading the signs, or not understanding them, could have deadly consequences. I hope my suggestions will be taken into consideration in the much-needed revision of beach safety signage.鈥�Dr Masaki Shibata, from the Japanese Department in the School of Social Sciences, the 成人大片.

The research, which was published in the journal , suggests that many people are also unclear as to what iconic Australian beach flags mean.

鈥淲hile they represent 鈥榓lways swim between the flags鈥�, more than 30 per cent of the overseas visitors and residents believe that beach flags mean that only people 鈥榩erceived to be good swimmers鈥� were allowed to be between the flags,鈥� Dr Shibata said.

鈥淎nother common flag instruction -鈥楴o flags = no swim鈥�- is also confusing, with half of all respondents interpreting this as they may not swim, but they may play, walk, and stand in the water.鈥�

He presented his research to the held by Royal Life Saving and Surf Life Saving Australia, and he will also present at the global conference in November.

鈥淚 hope my suggestions will be taken into consideration in the much-needed revision of beach safety signage.鈥�

Dr Shibata, a competitive ocean swimmer and former lifesaver, is currently investigating and developing effective ways of delivering beach safety knowledge to international students enrolled in Australian universities.