You may have noticed that your local beach has started implementing regulations on the types of beach umbrellas and sunshades allowed. Why are they doing this? It’s no secret that beaches and coastlines can get very windy, often lifting beach umbrellas out of sand and causing them to become dislodged, at which point they can turn into dangerous projectiles, acting like spears or skewers as they fly through the air.
Rogue beach umbrellas that fly away on windy days are a nuisance. But even worse, they are dangerous! Earlier this year, a woman was impaled by an umbrella while sunbathing at Cocoa Beach. Sadly, these incidents are happening more frequently than people realize. According to the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission), between 2009 and 2018, there were 32,764 reported umbrella-related injuries across the country. The CPSC estimates that nearly 3,000 individuals are sent to the emergency room each year due to umbrella-related accidents.
While beach umbrella-related deaths are uncommon, they are not unheard of. In 2023, a woman in South Carolina was killed after a dislodged umbrella impaled her chest. In 2019, a 13-year-old Florida boy vacationing in Massachusetts was hospitalized after being impaled by an umbrella on the beach. In 2016, Lottie Michelle Belk of Chester, Va. was struck in the torso and killed while vacationing in Virginia Beach with her family.
This is exactly why we created our patented product, the AnchorONE, which establishes substantial base-weight below ground-level to keep your beach umbrella securely anchored. Anchor Works Classic Beach Umbrella attaches semipermanently to the AnchorONE, preventing it from becoming dislodged. This wind-resistant design keeps your set-up secure in 20-25mph winds. It is a game changing product that is keeping people safe on the beach.
Our product is so loved and well-received that we have been invited to join the Coalition for Families, Teens, and Students in advocating alongside U.S. Congressional leaders—U.S. Senators, Representatives, elected municipal Mayors, and Council Members—to find common ground and enact sensible public policy solutions that make your visits to the beach safer, healthier, and more enjoyable for you and your loved ones. We are excited to attend the Congressional Stakeholders Summit, from November
12th-14th, in Washinton D.C. and look forward to driving these important discussions.
