IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i5p4471-d1086431.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/4471/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/4471/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sabri Alkan & Uğur Karadurmuş, 2023. "Risk assessment of natural and other hazard factors on drowning incidents in Turkey," 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. 118(3), pages 2459-2475, September.
    2. 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.
    3. Warton, Nicola M. & Brander, Robert W., 2017. "Improving tourist beach safety awareness: The benefits of watching Bondi Rescue," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 187-200.
    4. Muhammad Zubir Yusof & Muhammad Zahir Ramli & Siti Fairuz Che Othman & Yusairah Amani Mohd Aliziyad & Juliana Mohamed & Muhammad Faiz Pa’suya & Abdul Nasir Abdul Ghafar & Waheb A. Jabbar, 2023. "Public understanding of rip current and beach safety at Teluk Cempedak Recreational Beach in Pahang, Malaysia," 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. 115(1), pages 489-506, January.
    5. Shintaro Endo & Ryo Shimada & Toshinori Ishikawa & Tsutomu Komine, 2022. "Can the visualization of rip currents prevent drowning accidents? Consideration of the effect of optimism bias," 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. 110(3), pages 2017-2033, February.
    6. L. E. Segura & I. Arozarena & W. Koon & A. Gutiérrez, 2022. "Coastal drowning in Costa Rica: incident analysis and comparisons between Costa Rican nationals and foreigners," 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. 110(2), pages 1083-1095, January.
    7. Luigi Mucerino & Luca Carpi & Chiara F. Schiaffino & Enzo Pranzini & Eleonora Sessa & Marco Ferrari, 2021. "Rip current hazard assessment on a sandy beach in Liguria, NW Mediterranean," 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. 105(1), pages 137-156, January.
    8. Nur Adawiyah Mohammed Isa & Muhammad Zahir Ramli & Siti Fairuz Che Othman & Muhammad Zubir Yusof, 2021. "A preliminary studies to assess public knowledge of beach safety in east coast Malaysia," 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. 107(1), pages 873-887, May.
    9. Chris Houser & Brent Vlodarchyk & Phil Wernette, 2019. "Short communication: public interest in rip currents relative to other natural hazards: evidence from Google search data," 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. 97(3), pages 1395-1405, July.
    10. 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.
    11. Bruno Castelle & Rob Brander & Eric Tellier & Bruno Simonnet & Tim Scott & Jak McCarroll & Jean-Michel Campagne & Thibault Cavailhes & Pierre Lechevrel, 2018. "Surf zone hazards and injuries on beaches in SW France," 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. 93(3), pages 1317-1335, September.
    12. Ch Venkateswarlu & V. V. Arun Kumar Surisetty & Ankit Somani & B. Gireesh & C. V. Naidu, 2023. "Surf zone-related drownings and injuries based on lifeguard records in Goa beaches (2008–2020)," 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. 117(1), pages 313-337, May.
    13. Ben Van Leeuwen & R. McCarroll & Robert Brander & Ian Turner & Hannah Power & Anthony Bradstreet, 2016. "Examining rip current escape strategies in non-traditional beach morphologies," 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. 81(1), pages 145-165, March.
    14. 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.
    15. Christian Brannstrom & Sarah Trimble & Anna Santos & Heather Brown & Chris Houser, 2014. "Perception of the rip current hazard on Galveston Island and North Padre Island, Texas, USA," 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. 72(2), pages 1123-1138, June.
    16. R. McCarroll & Robert Brander & Jamie MacMahan & Ian Turner & Ad Reniers & Jenna Brown & Anthony Bradstreet & Shauna Sherker, 2014. "Evaluation of swimmer-based rip current escape strategies," 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. 71(3), pages 1821-1846, April.
    17. Ben R. Van Leeuwen & R. Jak McCarroll & Robert W. Brander & Ian L. Turner & Hannah E. Power & Anthony J. Bradstreet, 2016. "Examining rip current escape strategies in non-traditional beach morphologies," 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. 81(1), pages 145-165, March.
    18. Jeoffrey Dehez & Sandrine Lyser, 2024. "How ocean beach recreational quality fits with safety issues? An analysis of risky behaviours in France," Post-Print hal-04384330, HAL.
    19. McKay, Campbell & Brander, Robert W. & Goff, James, 2014. "Putting tourists in harms way – Coastal tourist parks and hazardous unpatrolled surf beaches in New South Wales, Australia," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 71-84.
    20. Isabel Arozarena & Chris Houser & Alejandro Echeverria & Christian Brannstrom, 2015. "The rip current hazard in Costa Rica," 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. 77(2), pages 753-768, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4471-:d:1086431. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.