CPSC Warns of Deadly Risks From Un-Anchored Beach Umbrellas Sent Flying in Wind Gusts

The warning and recommendations come just weeks after a Florida woman was struck by an unsecured beach umbrella, which impaled her leg.

As the summer months draw millions of vacationers to U.S. beaches, federal safety officials are warning about the serious and potentially deadly risks associated with un-anchored beach umbrellas.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the beach umbrella safety alert this week, providing a series of safety recommendations for beachgoers, and outlining new voluntary safety standards for beach umbrella manufacturers to follow to prevent umbrellas from being taken by the wind on crowed beaches.

Officials indicate roughly 1,000 individuals are treated in emergency rooms annually for injuries caused by wind gusts projecting unanchored umbrellas through crowed beaches, often resulting in contusions, lacerations, impalements and even death.

The report was issued just weeks after a beach goer sunbathing at Cocoa Beach was impaled by an umbrella sent flying in a wind gust. According to local news outlets, the local group’s rental beach umbrella came loose from the sand, impaled her leg.

In response to the growing number of beach umbrella injuries, the CPSC has introduced voluntary safety standard ASTM F3681-24 to help manufacturers minimize the hazards from airborne beach umbrellas.

Under the safety standards, both beach umbrella anchor systems and beach umbrellas are required to withstand a resisting force of at least 75 pounds or remain secure in wind speeds of up to 30 mph when a compliant anchor is properly installed in the sand. Manufacturers are encouraged to promptly integrate this standard into their products.

Prospective buyers and renters are being instructed to look for a label on the anchor indicating compliance with this standard, specifically, with labels stating “MEETS ASTM F3681 FOR WIND SPEEDS UP TO 30 MPH,” which also advises on the maximum umbrella canopy size appropriate for use with the anchor.

Beachgoers are advised to only use beach umbrellas that are accompanied by anchors bearing a label that confirms adherence to the ASTM F3681-24 safety standard. Officials indicate that it is crucial to follow the manufacturer’s setup instructions meticulously to ensure that the umbrella and anchor are securely installed, and to perform regular inspections to ensure that the anchor is not damaged and is functioning as described.

Further, consumers are encouraged to remain vigilant about sudden wind gusts and should immediately close the umbrella canopy if it becomes unstable.