A new app has been rolled out across Cornwall to help people stay safe on the Duchy's beaches.
The free MyCoast beach information app is currently active across all 60 RNLI lifeguarded beaches in Cornwall.
It purposefully directs people away from beaches with unsuitable conditions while simultaneously giving them all the relevant information they need for a satisfying day by the seaside.
MyCoast was created in Cornwall in collaboration with the RNLI and other top contributors and encourages users to plan safer and more enjoyable trivial days.
The app allows users to list their activities for the day and make known whether they will be with children or have accessibility needs.
It then provides facility requests such as parking, restrooms, or food and drink facilities prior to searching through beaches.
The app's intricate engine concurrently analyses the user's needs and the weather, water conditions, and specific beach safety parameters set forth by the RNLI, before revealing the most suitable beaches for their activities and requests.
As such, beach-goers can make well-informed decisions before heading out to the beach.
One of the highlights of MyCoast is that it is the only app to draw real-time information across all these features plus RNLI's safety parameters, and offering details about located facilities that users can navigate from within the app.
The app has gained admiration from Surf Life Saving Great Britain, the #Stop Drowning Above Water Charity, Cornwall Council, and Visit Cornwall, due to its unique data derived from leading global information contributors.
With 15 drownings recorded along the Cornwall coastline each year, it is expected that MyCoast will aid people in planning to visit the most suitable beaches for them, resulting in a reduction of avoidable accidents.
MyCoast founder Jo Murray said: "MyCoast was born from my personal frustrations at simply wanting to safely take my family to the beach.
"After several failed attempts I soon lost my confidence to explore parts of Cornwall and going to the beach became a stressful prospect.
"I was determined to drive change, enabling people to 'know before they go', to help reduce risk and stress by providing a single point of beach information."
MyCoast is completely free to download and encourages users to explore the Cornish coastline safely and confidently at any time in any way they desire.
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