Kaine, Warner urge government agency to finalize beach umbrella standards, make Virginia beaches safer

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Everyone loves sitting back and relaxing at the beach on a warm summer day. However, for thousands of Americans every year, that relaxation can turn into panic and even injury as the result of runaway beach umbrellas.

“There have been some just heartbreaking injuries and deaths — and also shockingly high numbers of injuries and deaths — by these beach umbrellas,” said state Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va).

Kaine said he’s been in touch with Virginians whose loved ones have been killed, or have themselves been injured, by runaway beach umbrellas — including losing eyes.

That’s why Kaine, alongside Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va), is asking the Consumer Product Safety Commission to finalize regulations requiring beach umbrellas to stay in the sand in windy conditions up to 30 miles per hour.

“Senator Warner and I have been urging our federal consumer safety agencies to put out a standard that would have to be met,” Kaine said.

In 2016, a Chester woman visiting Virginia Beach was hit and killed by a runaway beach umbrella. Kaine said tragedies like that one must be prevented.

“Not every state is focused on this — but if you are a state with an ocean, with coasts and with beaches … it’s a significant problem,” Kaine said.

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