Summer surf season is under way this weekend with lifeguards hitting the beaches to keep Kiwis safe.

“By the end of the week, we should pretty much have all our locations patrolled seven days a week,” Eastern Region lifesaving manager Chaz Gibbons-Campbell said.

Always try to swim on patrolled beaches, says Surf Lifesaving NZ.

The swell around Mount Maunganui is expected to pick up from Wednesday through to Thursday before dying down again, but the smaller waves cause the issues.

“It’s about that one-and-a-half one-metre surf size that causes us the most issues,” he said.

“People feel confident and overestimate their abilities and get into trouble.”

A swarm of lion's mane jellyfish have been spotted in the Tauranga Harbour.

Jellyfish and swimming warning

Beachgoers spotted thousands of white lion’s mane jellyfish around the waters in Tauranga, but they are harmless, Gibbons-Campbell said.

“Hopefully, the big surf will push the jellyfish out this week.”

The blue bottle jellyfish that come in with the warmer water can cause concerns, he said, and the current water temperature is around 17C.

There were 764 ACC surfing-related claims for $2.5 million until November 1, 2024, according to recently released numbers.

“If in doubt. Stay out,” Gibbons-Campbell said.

Proper parental supervision is required at the beach, as children can drift offshore at a moment’s notice. Sitting on the shore scrolling social media will not help anyone, he said.

“Parents need to be within arm’s length of the children in the water.”

Swimming within the flags and looking for lifeguards will keep swimmers safe, but if no one is patrolling the beach, call 111 if someone is in danger.

“We encourage people to find the safest place to swim by visiting safeswim.org.nz, which has all the patrol locations and times.”

Fire restrictions amid barbecue season

It is advised to check what fire restrictions and bans are in place before lighting up the barbecue, Fire and Emergency Bay of Plenty district manager Jeff Maunder said.

“Be careful where you dispose of the hot ash, and be aware of the consequences of getting it wrong.”

To check fire restrictions, visit checkitsalright.nz, where information about all types of fire safety is available, he said.

Pitmaster Mike Jefferies said it is his biggest pet peeve when people don't maintain their barbecues. Photo / Tom Eley

There were 74 barbecue-related ACC claims in 2023, with soft tissue injuries, lacerations, punctures, stings, and burns being the leading types of injuries.

“A clean barbecue and fat tray will go a long way to keeping Kiwis safe during the summer holiday,” said Big Smoke Pitmaster Mike Jefferies.

“It is also a good way to protect against foodborne illnesses.”

Men are twice as likely to suffer barbecue-related injuries, leading to an estimated $393,000 in recovery costs last summer, according to ACC.

“We’re challenging people to take a moment to have “hmmm’ moment – to think about ways they can manage injury risks while doing their favourite thing,” ACC injury prevention leader James Whitaker said.

“ACC supports recovering from injuries, but it is better if injury is avoided altogether.”

“By staying injury-free, we can all keep doing what we love.”

Cyclists will be on trails, roads, and mountains; however, ACC reminds everyone to stay safe while riding.

ACC recorded 2430 claims relating to $6.7m in bicycle-related injuries in the Bay of Plenty.

Throughout the summer, cyclists can do several things to keep themselves safe and keep injury-related costs to a minimum, Whitaker said. “

“Check your bike’s condition using ‘ABC’, ‘A’ for air - do your tyres have the right pressure, ‘B’ for brakes - are both brakes working properly, and ‘C’ for chain - check your chain isn’t loose. “

It is a legal requirement to wear a helmet while riding a bike and failing to do so carries a minimum fine of $55.

“Make sure your helmet meets New Zealand safety standards, and when fitting it, use the two-four-one method,” Whitaker said.

ACC Claims and Costs 2024:

-Road cycling claims and cost for Bay of Plenty - Bay of Plenty - 2430 new claims for $6.8m and 2706 new claims in 2023 for $7.3m.

-Surfing claims and cost for Bay of Plenty - 715 new claims for $1.9m and 764 new claims in 2023 for $2.5m.

-Swimming claims and cost for Bay of Plenty Bay of Plenty – 607 new claims for $4.1m and 579 new claims in 2023 for $5.2m

-Barbeque claims and cost for Bay of Plenty - Bay of Plenty – 64 new claims for $223,000 and 74 new claims in 2023 for $393,000.

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- SunLive