South west beach-goers are urged to swim between the flags and take care as the mercury soars as high as 40 degrees in the region on Thursday.
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The Bureau of Meteorology predicts the temperature will hit 39 degrees in Warrnambool and 40 degrees in Port Fairy on Thursday.
It will remain hot on Friday with temperatures of 32 in Warrnambool and 28 degrees in Port Fairy.
Warrnambool and Port Fairy Surf Life Saving club captains David Owen and Shaun Murrihy reminded people to swim between the flags where beaches were patrolled by qualified lifeguards.
Mr Owen said the area between the flags at Warrnambool’s main beach had been extended to allow more people to swim safely.
“We want people to cover up and to be careful,” Mr Owen said. Swim with a friend if you can and look out for each other.”
He said it was important to keep hydrated and encouraged anyone with questions or concerns to approach the lifeguards. “Don’t hesitate to come up to the tower and speak to our lifesaving people.
“We had a few dehydrated people come up Saturday week ago on that heatwave. We’re there to help. That’s our role.
“We want to make sure everyone’s safe and comfortable and enjoying the best of Warrnambool’s beach.”
Mr Murrihy echoed his words, encouraging people to cover up, reapply sunscreen and to keep hydrated throughout the day.
“Swim between the flags,” Mr Murrihy said. “It’s a message you hear over and over but I think people are starting to get the message.”
Mr Murrihy said Port Fairy lifeguards would be “kept on their toes” on Thursday as swimmers of all ages flocked to the beach.
“There will be a lot of people I’d imagine. They’re on their last days of holidays and want to make the most of it.”
Life Saving Victoria’s lifesaving operations manager Greg Scott reminded swimmers of the serious dangers that rips posed.
“If you’re heading to the beach, remember that rips are the number one beach hazard for swimmers and each year more people drown in rips than die from shark attacks, cyclones and floods combined,” Mr Scott said.
“Despite this, three quarters of people can’t identify a rip current and two thirds of people who think they can spot a rip, can’t. Learning how to identify and avoid a rip current is essential for beachgoers.”
Mr Owen and Mr Murrihy said the past week had been incident free at their respective beaches and hoped it would continue.
“It’s been wonderful,” Mr Owen said. “We’ve been really pleased with people’s behaviour. As long as they stay within the flagged area and be careful. Just be wary.”
Mr Owen said they had “pulled up” a few jetskiers who were travelling too fast as they came into the Breakwater area but the majority were well behaved and were abiding by the jetski exclusion zone 250 metres off the beach.
“Generally speaking everyone has been well behaved and looking out for each other. We’ve had no incidents that have been challenging,” Mr Owen said.
Life Saving Victoria recommends that if you’re caught in a rip current, stay calm, conserve your energy and consider these options – wave an arm and call out to seek help; float with the current, which may return you to a shallow sandbank; swim parallel to the beach, which may help you escape the rip current; and then reassess the situation – if what you’re doing isn’t working, try another option until you return to the shore. Stay calm, all rips can be escaped from.
Download the Vic Emergency App for waterway warnings at emergency.vic.gov.au and be aware and prepared for conditions by checking the Bureau of Meteorology app or bom.gov.au, for up-to-date conditions and warnings.