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There has been a growing concern over the safety of beach umbrellas over the past couple of years. Every summer, a beachgoer has to get injured by a flying umbrella. And this happens every other time. It is about time we found a way to prevent this once and for all.
Every time you set up your beach umbrella at the beach, do you ever stop to ask yourself what if a strong wind blows? Would it survive? That aside, what if it hits other beachgoers at the beach, and how much damage will it cause? These are very genuine concerns that everyone needs to wake up to and seek solutions.
Luckily, our article is here at your rescue. We cover some safety tips that you can apply to secure beach umbrellas on a windy day. Read on!
Tips for Securing Beach Umbrellas
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Choose the Right Beach Umbrella
It all begins here. The choice of a beach umbrella. See, not all umbrellas are meant for the beach. Even for those meant for the beach, there are some that are better than others. So, the first step to ensuring safety at the beach with regards to the beach umbrella is selecting the right one. Now, the question is, how does one know the right beach umbrella? Well, this is not an expert field per se. With just a little common sense, you could get yourself the safest beach umbrella there is on the market.
Here’s how you identify the right umbrella. First, inspect the material from which the umbrella is made. Strong winds aside, you would be throwing your money away if you buy an umbrella made from cheap flimsy plastic. Check the pole and ensure it is sturdy enough to withstand the strongest possible wind you expect at the beach. Go for the high-end models. They are made from the best material to give you the value for your money. If you are on a budget and you cannot afford these ones, then it would be better to stay away from the beach on windy days. Alternatively, you can try safety tip number two discussed down below.
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Inform the Relevant Authorities at the Beach
If you cannot afford to buy a beach umbrella, this should not stop you from going to the beach on a windy day. You can simply inform the relevant authorities at the beach to organize a rental beach umbrella. This way, you will save yourself the hassle of installing and what is more, they will assign an operator who will oversee the overall safety of the umbrella the whole time. The best part about involving the beach stand operator is that they will not only rent the umbrella to but also they will do the installation and disassembly at the end of the day. If on the other hand, you managed to purchase the right tent for yourself, then follow safety tip number three discussed down below.
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Install the Beach Umbrella Correctly
Getting the installation right will go a long way in ensuring the safety of a beach umbrella on a windy day. Here’s how you can be sure the umbrella is installed properly. First, ensure you dig the right hole for the stake. Experts recommend a hole that is at least 16 inches in depth. Well, this can be a challenge but it is not impossible. Bring along a shovel.
If carrying a shovel to the beach seems like too much of a hassle, then we recommend you rocking the stake back and forth while driving it into the sand. This way, you will be ensuring that it gets deeper enough to support the umbrella stand.
To get the best results, it is recommended to use a shovel. This one gives you the freedom and ease of digging a hole in the right depth. Driving the stake with your bare hands could result in inaccuracies. Once you get it right with the installation of the umbrella stand, the next thing would be the placement of the umbrella in relation to the wind. Let us see how this one is done in the safety tip below.
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Ensure the Umbrella is Positioned in the Right Direction
This is one of the most effective ways of preventing the umbrella from getting swiped by the tides of the wind. First, you will have to identify the direction the wind is blowing from then ensure the umbrella is tilted towards that direction. This way, as the wind blows, it will not have the traction and grip on the umbrella. Of course, the stand will have to be firm enough to withstand the strength of the wind. Otherwise, the whole umbrella will be damaged by the wind. Ensure the material used to construct the umbrella is strong enough. Flimsy materials like plastic will be easily destroyed by the wind even if you position it in the right direction against the wind.
The surest way to ensure the beach umbrella doesn’t get blown away by the wind is by getting the right quality. A poor choice would result in disappointment and possible injuries.
Summary
The safety of a beach umbrella is dependent on its quality and the installation process. Getting these two things right will reduce or eliminate the possibility of a safety hazard at the beach. One thing about the risks associated with faulty or poorly installed beach umbrellas is that they could cause serious injuries and even death to innocent beachgoers. Therefore, it is in your best interest to ensure that you not only have the right quality but also to make sure that it is installed properly. Take care of these two things and you will not have to worry about visiting the beach on windy days.
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