With the increasing of economics and quality of life in Taiwan, people have good perceptions to participate leisure sports. Because more costal recreational activities become popular, more costal recreational accidents are increasing. Therefore, costal recreational safety is more important. The objective of this research was to study the cognitions and attitudes for coastal recreational safety. Five hundred people from central Taiwan by random sampling method were selected in this cross-sectional, descriptive study by using a structured questionnaire. Four hundred and twenty-four valid data were used to analyze as the results, the valid corresponding rate was 84.8%. The surveys were conducted during the period of March 21 to April 14 2011. The results of this study were the followings: 1. The respondents had not good cognitions of coastal recreational safety; the correct responding rate to answer one or two out of 14 questions was 45.1 %. 2. T The respondents had less knowledge on ocean with most drowning accidents happened in Taiwan; the correct responding rate to answer zero or one out of three questions was 13.5 %. 3. The respondents had less knowledge on the reasons for ocean with most drowning accidents happened in Taiwan; the correct responding rate to answer zero, one or two out of three questions was 20.9 %. 4. The respondents’ attitudes of coastal recreational safety (1) Accompanying with someone while they joined costal recreational was the respondents’ selected as the best prevention strategy. Costal recreational areas with lifeguard and safety a sign was the respondents’ selected as the worst prevention strategy. (2) Costal recreational areas with a professional lifeguard were the respondents’ selected as the best safety environment. Because of money saving, a diving professional coaching more than 10 tourists was the respondents’ selected as the worst safety environment. (3) Accompanying with recreational activities and safety, to promote recreational safety rules and regulations was the respondents’ selected as the best attitude of related costal recreational manufactures. Because of money saving, a diving professional coaching more than 10 tourists was the respondents’ selected as the worst attitude of related costal recreational manufactures. (4) For the tours safety, to agree with laws to regulate related costal recreational manufactures was the respondents’ selected as the best attitude of related costal recreational Governments. To make laws to regulate not to encamp or to barbecue at unsafe costal areas was the respondents’ selected as the worst attitude of related costal recreational Governments. (5) To be safe while to attain recreational activities was the respondents’ selected as the best attitude of costal tourists. To jump to water to save the drowning person was the respondents’ selected as the worst attitude of costal tourists. 5. The better of respondents’ swimming abilities were the more intentions jump to water to save the drowning person. The better of respondents’ swimming and rescuing abilities were the more intentions jump to water to save the drowning person. 6. The respondents’ gender, age, and education influenced their attitudes of coastal recreational safety. Based on the results of this research, the education authorities should give students more correct attitudes of coastal recreational safety from elementary schools. And related costal recreational governments should promote more knowledge of coastal recreational safety to decrease accidents happened again.
