How Digging Holes in the Sand Can Be Dangerous

There are dangers all around us. The most danger usually lies in the most unexpected places. We rarely think that a child playing in the sand could be harmful or even deadly.

Many summer vacations are to places that have both sand and water. It is an American tradition to take at least one trip to the beach. Americans love the sun and waves. Summer beaches can be seen full of families. You can see small children under canopies building sand castles. Others prefer digging holes.

However, some studies now say that perhaps letting your child sit and dig endlessly for hours in the sand in not so good of an idea. Many children can dig huge holes or ditches. It is an old phrase that some children will even try to dig a hole to China.

Researchers have found that hole digging can be fatal or cause injury. There have been at least 52 incidents where people were killed or injured due to holes collapsing. This does not include the number of incidents that have not been reported to officials. The victims aged anywhere from three years old to twenty-one years old. The average age was twelve.

Not much attention has been given to the hole digging danger because the attention at the beach is usually focused on water safety and sharks. Parents usually feel most at ease when their children are on the sand. They usually watch their children closer and are more attentive when the children are near or in the water.

However even though your child is in the sand, a danger still exist. When holes collapse around young children, they completely consume the child. There may be no sign that the child is even under the sand. You may not be sure where to look or where your child has gone.

A great misconception is about the size of the hole dug. The holes do not have to be very big. A hole of only a few feet can collapse around a small child. It does not take a lot of sand to suffocate a toddler.

To make the beach and sand a safer place, you should never dig a hole that is deeper than knee deep. If your children dig a hole, always cover it up when you leave. Others walking on the beach may fall into it if it is left. Use common sense when letting your child play on the beach.