What is the beach umbrella etiquette?

Here are some common unspoken rules for using beach umbrellas:

I. Reservation Rules:

Safe Distance: Maintain a distance of two beach chairs' width (approximately 1.5 meters) from your neighbor's umbrella. If your umbrella's shadow deviates from another person's area, apologize and adjust accordingly.
Tide Retreat: Do not place your umbrella in wet sand an hour before high tide to avoid being swept away by waves and hitting swimmers.
First Come, First Served: Do not grab a spot if you see an umbrella hole in the sand—it might be a temporary marker used by a regular to go to the restroom.

II. Wind Protection Safety Lines:

Umbrella Shift Notification: Before adjusting the umbrella angle to block the wind, shout "The umbrella is tilting to the left!" to warn those behind you to move aside.
Umbrella Closing Warning: On windy days, shout "Time to pack up!" when closing your umbrella to alert those around you to protect your drinks.
Flying Umbrella Emergency: If your umbrella is blown away, chase after it while shouting "Get out of the way! The umbrella flew away!"—safer than blindly chasing after it.

III. Noise Control:

Rotating Hook: When adjusting the umbrella height, press and hold the knob and turn it slowly. A sharp "click" sound is comparable to scratching a blackboard with your fingernail.
No Dropping the Umbrella After Closing: Don't throw a wet folding umbrella on the ground—the splashed seawater might get into your neighbor's iced coffee.
Silence with Rope Studs: Don't use metal hooks for windproof lines; use cloth straps to tie them to rocks instead (the clanging noise will disturb your nap).

IV. Hygiene Rules

Sand Shaking Etiquette: Before closing your umbrella, shake it three times in a secluded area to avoid sand getting into other people's sandwiches.
Wound Isolation: If you cut your hand, wrap the umbrella handle with a tissue before handling it; bloodstains are difficult to wash and can cause panic.
Sunscreen Pitfalls: Apply oily sunscreen and wipe your hands before touching the umbrella fabric; otherwise, you'll leave permanent oil stains.

V. Sharing Wisdom

Negotiation for Sharing Shade: When you want to share the shade of a neighbor's umbrella, offering a bottle of iced drink is more effective than directly asking, "Can I lean against you?"
Leaving Area Trust: When temporarily leaving, say to those around you, "Could you watch my umbrella?"—it's more effective than locking ten locks.
Emergency Assistance: If you see a novice's umbrella about to be blown over, offer to weigh it down with sandbags to build goodwill.