Umbrella dangers are not what most people think of when dreaming of a day at the beach. You may think of crashing waves, warm sand, and plenty of relaxation. If you were to think about the dangers of a beach day, you might think about getting a bad sunburn or maybe even a shark attack. However, none of these things are what hurt one and killed another woman this summer in South Carolina. Unfortunately, their attackers are something that litter the shore as far as the eye can see: beach umbrellas.
Beach Umbrella Accidents
In June of 2021, Berenice Kelly and her husband were vacationing at the Wild Dunes Resort on Isle of Palms. As weather conditions worsened, the umbrellas that the resort had put out on the beach for guests to use were blown loose from where they had been placed in the sand. One such umbrella hit Kelly in the face, shattering her face and nose. This required extensive surgery to repair. As Kelly’s husband, Theodore, provided aid to his wife while waiting for emergency services to arrive, he was also injured. On July 5th of this year, the couple filed a lawsuit against the Wild Dunes Resort. The Kellys claim that the resort “failed to properly install the umbrella and monitor weather conditions” (News13). As of July 10th, a court date has not been set for what the couple hopes will be a jury trial.
On August 10th of this year, another woman was killed after being impaled in the chest by a loose beach umbrella. Tammy Perreault was enjoying a day at a Garden City beach when an umbrella blew loose from its anchoring and hit her. She was rushed to a hospital, but unfortunately, she died about an hour later from chest trauma (CBS News). According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), because of their wide canopy, it is easy for umbrellas to get caught in a strong wind if they aren’t anchored properly. To help anchor them, umbrellas typically have a spiked end to cut through sand easily. However, this makes them incredibly dangerous if they are being hurtled through the air.
How many beach umbrella injuries happen each year?
The CPSC has reported that around 3,000 Americans a year are hospitalized due to injuries caused by all types of umbrellas.
The Journal of Safety Research estimates that between 2000 and 2019, an estimated 5,512 beach umbrella injuries were identified (The Journal of Safety Research).
The CPSC is aware of this fatal incident involving Terry Perreault. They are working to develop a standard that will establish requirements for beach umbrellas and their anchoring systems to make them safer and more reliable.
Implementing Changes
Horry County officials have not said whether or not this tragedy will cause changes to be implemented to beach umbrella policies. Horry County boasts 14 miles of public beaches, and current policies state that “shading devices of any kind cannot be tied, bound, or connected to each other in any manner, and they must be secured.” It is not known whether or not the umbrella that killed Perreault was properly secured before the wind swept it away (The Post and Courier).
While beach days can be a fun way to relax, it is important to be aware of weather conditions and of your surroundings. If you’re using an umbrella on the beach, make sure that it is properly secured in the sand and don’t leave it unattended if there is relatively strong wind. And, of course, always wear sunscreen when hitting the beach!
Beach umbrella safety tips:
- “Spike your beach umbrella pole into the sand.
- Firmly rock it back and forth until it’s buried deep into the sand.
- Tilt it into the wind to keep it from blowing away and injuring someone.
- Anchor the base of the pole with some form of anchor or weight.
- Ensure the sand is packed well around the base.” (CPSC.gov)
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