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Preliminary Investigation and Analysis of Beachgoers’ Awareness of Rip Currents in South China

Author

Listed:
  • Daoheng Zhu

    (School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China)

  • Zhiqiang Li

    (School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China)

  • Pengpeng Hu

    (School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China)

  • Bingfu Wang

    (School of Liberal Arts, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Republic of Korea)

  • Qianxin Su

    (School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China)

  • Gaocong Li

    (School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China)

Abstract

Among many coastal hazards, rip currents have gradually become one of the most noticeable hazards. Studies have demonstrated that most drowning accidents at beaches around the world are related to rip currents. In this study, online and field questionnaires were combined for the first time to reveal beachgoers’ awareness of rip currents in China from four aspects: demographic characteristics, swimming ability, information about visiting beaches, and knowledge about rip currents. One educational strategy was introduced to the field survey. The results suggest that (i) the proportion of online and field respondents who have heard of “rip currents” and seen warning signs of rip currents is extremely small. This reflects that beachgoers lack awareness of rip current hazards. Thus, China needs to strengthen the safety education of rip current knowledge. (ii) The level of awareness of rip currents can significantly affect the community’s ability to identify the location of rip currents and their choice of escape direction. (iii) In the field survey, we implemented an educational strategy as an intervention for respondents, and the accuracy of identifying rip currents and choosing the correct escape route improved by 34% and 46.7%, respectively. This implies that the intervention of educational strategy can significantly deepen beachgoers’ awareness of rip currents. It is recommended that more educational strategies about rip current knowledge be implemented on Chinese beaches in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Daoheng Zhu & Zhiqiang Li & Pengpeng Hu & Bingfu Wang & Qianxin Su & Gaocong Li, 2023. "Preliminary Investigation and Analysis of Beachgoers’ Awareness of Rip Currents in South China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-20, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4471-:d:1086431
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. A. Dana Ménard & Chris Houser & Robert W. Brander & Sarah Trimble & Alexandra Scaman, 2018. "The psychology of beach users: importance of confirmation bias, action, and intention to improving rip current safety," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 94(2), pages 953-973, November.
    2. Kathleen M. Fallon & Qing Lai & Stephen P. Leatherman, 2018. "Rip current literacy of beachgoers at Miami Beach, Florida," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 90(2), pages 601-621, January.
    3. S. Arun Kumar & K. Prasad, 2014. "Rip current-related fatalities in India: a new predictive risk scale for forecasting rip currents," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 70(1), pages 313-335, January.
    4. Nicole Caldwell & Chris Houser & Klaus Meyer-Arendt, 2013. "Ability of beach users to identify rip currents at Pensacola Beach, Florida," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 68(2), pages 1041-1056, September.
    5. Baris Barlas & Serdar Beji, 2016. "Rip current fatalities on the Black Sea beaches of Istanbul and effects of cultural aspects in shaping the incidents," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 80(2), pages 811-821, January.
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