Improving tourist beach safety awareness: The benefits of watching Bondi Rescue

Many tourists drown on beaches worldwide and an ongoing challenge is improving their behaviour and awareness in relation to beach safety and hazards. However, existing safety interventions are often limited in reach. Bondi Rescue is a television show based on the lifeguards at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia that has been viewed by millions globally. This study examines the value of Bondi Rescue as a potential global beach safety intervention. Data was obtained from video content analysis of Bondi Rescue and an online survey of 1852 global viewers. Positive outcomes from watching Bondi Rescue include improved awareness of the rip current hazard and the importance of swimming near lifeguards. 78% of respondents felt that watching the show improved their beach safety knowledge significantly. Bondi Rescue is particularly effective for improving beach safety awareness of international viewers who are infrequent beachgoers who might not otherwise receive any beach safety information.