Digging holes in the sand might seem like harmless fun, but it can actually be really dangerous if the hole is deep. If the sand collapses on someone, it's super hard to escape because sand is heavy and dense. Research even shows that more people die from being trapped and suffocating in sand than from shark attacks! Unlike snow, which is lighter and gives you a chance to make an air pocket if you're trapped, sand doesn't allow that. Once it falls on you, it’s nearly impossible to move. So next time you're at the beach, be careful with those deep holes! Animation is created by Bright Side. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music from TheSoul Sound: https://thesoul-sound.com/ Check our Bright Side podcast on Spotify and leave a positive review! https://open.spotify.com/show/0hUkPxD34jRLrMrJux4VxV Subscribe to Bright Side: https://goo.gl/rQTJZz ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brightside Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightside.official TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brightside.official?lang=en Stock materials (photos, footages and other): https://www.depositphotos.com https://www.shutterstock.com https://www.eastnews.ru ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more videos and articles visit: http://www.brightside.me ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This video is made for entertainment purposes. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, safety and reliability. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any damages or losses. It is the viewer's responsibility to use judgement, care and precaution if you plan to replicate.
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00:00When you think of beaches, the first scary thing that pops into your head is probably
00:04sharks, right?
00:06Those poor guys have a bad rap as the big bullies of the ocean, but honestly, they have
00:10way fewer fatal run-ins than jellyfish, algae, and even sand.
00:16Every year, tons of people flock to the beach to soak up the sun and chill by the waves,
00:20but digging holes in the sand can actually be pretty risky.
00:24In February 2024, a tragic incident occurred when a 7-year-old girl got trapped after a
00:29roughly 5-foot deep hole she'd dug with her brother caved in on her.
00:35Despite efforts from bystanders to rescue her, help arrived too late.
00:39You might think digging in the sand is harmless, but deep holes can be a final exit trap.
00:45Sand is defined by its size, not by its material.
00:49Most beach sand is quartz, but tropical spots might have coral sand.
00:53The weight of the sand depends on what's mixed in.
00:56Pure quartz is pretty light, around 90 pounds per cubic foot dried out, while more mixed
01:02sands can get way heavier.
01:05When sand is wet, it holds its shape better, but when it dries out, it's a whole different
01:10story.
01:11If you dig a hole and then it dries, it's likely to collapse.
01:15The danger increases dramatically if someone is standing near the edge, adding weight and
01:19making it even more unstable.
01:22Once that sand starts falling in, it fills up all the air pockets, making it hard for
01:27anyone trapped inside to breathe.
01:31Rescuing a person from a sand collapse is tough.
01:34Sand is heavy and keeps collapsing, so rescuers need to move fast.
01:38Ideally, they've got about 3-5 minutes before the trapped person suffocates.
01:44If you ever get in such a situation, the advice is to expose the person's mouth so they can
01:49breathe while someone else digs them out.
01:52If you're heading to the beach, be smart about holes.
01:55The best rule is to never dig a hole deeper than the knees of the shortest person in your
01:59group.
02:00Also, it's a good idea to fill any holes after you're done playing.
02:04It's all too easy for someone to stumble into a forgotten pit, and even a shallow hole can
02:09cause injuries.
02:12From 1997 to 2007, those sand holes took 31 lives in the US, and that's just within 10
02:20Remember I told you sharks are responsible for fewer lives?
02:23From 1997 to this day, in 27 years, 29 people in the US have met their early demise because
02:31of sharks.
02:33Hitting the beach only to find a bunch of algae?
02:36Total buzzkill!
02:37But while some algae are totally fine even to munch on, others can bring serious health
02:42risks, even if you're just hanging next to them.
02:46Algal blooms, or red tides, happen when algae go on a wild growth spree.
02:52These blooms can release nasty toxins that are bad news for humans, fish, shellfish,
02:57and even birds.
02:59One of the most well-known algal blooms rolls around almost every summer on Florida's Gulf
03:04coast, leading to shellfish that are no longer safe to munch on.
03:09Even the ones that aren't toxic can throw a wrench in the ecosystem.
03:13When all that algae eventually withers and breaks down, it uses up the oxygen in the
03:17water, leaving marine life gasping for air.
03:21Folks definitely need to steer clear of eating shellfish from areas hit by these toxic algal
03:26blooms.
03:28Back in 1990, six fishermen almost met a tragic end after scarfing down some steamed mussels
03:34they'd gathered near Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
03:37Swimming in those waters doesn't always pose a serious health risk, but it's still not
03:41recommended.
03:43Some people might experience skin irritation or itchy eyes.
03:47Also, make sure to steer clear of swimming near dead fish since that's where harmful
03:51bacteria can hang out.
03:53If you start to feel weird after getting in the water, it's best to get out and rinse
03:58off with fresh water right away.
04:01You know, it's not always some specific thing that makes certain beaches risky.
04:06Sometimes, beaches themselves are just full of surprises.
04:10Take Eddy Bay or Mission Beach in Australia, for example.
04:14The chances are you'll have to share the sand with cassowaries, some of the most intimidating
04:19birds on the planet.
04:21Picture getting all set to relax and sunbathe only to find these giant flightless birds
04:26hanging out nearby.
04:28They're like emus, but scarier.
04:31They can weigh over 160 pounds and might be a bit aggressive, so watch out!
04:37If those birds don't freak you out, then the black sand beaches of Kilauea might just do
04:42the trick.
04:43They sure look inviting, but these beaches are right next to one of the most active volcanoes
04:48in the world, Mount Kilauea, which has been erupting since 1983, pouring hot lava into
04:54the ocean.
04:56These hot waters are not a big deal compared to some Hawaiian beaches.
05:00If you ever want to take a dip at Hanakapiai Beach on Kauai's coast, reconsider that plan.
05:06The beach is infamous for its strong rip currents that can pull you out to sea in an
05:10instant.
05:11If you find yourself caught in one, the nearest safe shore is a daunting 6 miles away.
05:18Official records show at least 30 fatalities here, but a nearby sign reportedly tallies
05:24up to over 80.
05:27Rips are those strong currents that pull water out to the ocean, and they can quickly drag
05:32people and stuff away from the shallow water near the beach.
05:35Typically, they move at about 1-2 miles per hour, but they can speed up to 4 or 5 miles
05:41per hour, which is faster than the speed of some professional swimmers.
05:47These currents are especially fierce when the surf is big, but you should never underestimate
05:52any body of water.
05:54You can also find rips around river mouths, estuaries, and even near structures like piers
06:00and groynes.
06:01They can be tricky to spot, but you might notice a patch of churning, choppy water on
06:06the ocean's surface that signals a rip current.
06:09Rip tides aren't exclusive to some specific location.
06:13They can be found across the world.
06:15Playa Zipolite in Mexico, Australia's Fraser Island, and many more.
06:21Another water danger is shore break waves.
06:25Those are fierce waves that crash straight onto the beach, often right on the sand.
06:31Imagine the force of a car slamming down on your body.
06:34That's kind of what getting caught in a shore break feels like.
06:38Such waves can cause some gnarly injuries, particularly to your neck and spine, even
06:42if they don't look super huge.
06:45Hawaii is notorious for its intense shore breaks, especially spots like Kiyaki Beach,
06:51where surfers throw caution to the wind for a thrill.
06:54So if you're hitting a Hawaiian beach, keep an eye on those insider waves and always look
06:59out for lifeguards.
07:03Getting stung by jellyfish is something that happens a lot to folks who are swimming, wading,
07:08or diving in the ocean.
07:10Those long tentacles can deliver venom through thousands of tiny, sharp stingers.
07:15However, to us humans, this venom doesn't do much.
07:19Yeah, it's very unpleasant.
07:21It gives us burning sensations and probably some skin redness, but that's mostly it.
07:26You won't even spot the stung area in a couple of days.
07:30Most jellyfish stings will heal up on their own in a few days or weeks with some at-home
07:34care, even though sometimes they can lead to something more dangerous with way more
07:39severe symptoms.
07:41However, if you're hanging out in the coastal waters of Northern Australia and the Indo-Pacific
07:46region, and you get stung by a jellyfish, you're in for a lot of trouble, my friends.
07:52See, it's the area where box jellyfish live, and these jellies are no joke.
07:58Some people rightfully call them sea wasps or even marine stingers.
08:02They're probably the most hazardous and toxic jellyfish out there.
08:06Their sting is incredibly excruciating, so much so that some folks have experienced cardiac
08:12arrest before they even made it to the shore.
08:16Rumor has it those jellies are responsible for taking nearly 80 lives in Australia since
08:21record started.
08:23So how do you tell who's who?
08:25Unlike regular jellies, box jellyfish got this pale blue see-through vibe.
08:30Also, they got their name because their bell-shaped body looks like a cube.