Beach Safety

I've survived several. Actually, when kayaking back through the surf, the rip currents are the best way to get past the break without much effort. On the thought of safety, I think you guys should replace the dbl red flag, which has an icon of a swimmer with a line through it, with a red or hyper orange flag, flying under a black flag bearing the skull and crossbones, which most people know as the symbol of death. You may think this thought is a bit out there, but I think it might draw more people's attention, and get them to at least look at the flag legends posted below the flags.

Sadly, I think a skull & crossbones would result in many instances of "ooh, look at the pirate flag".

I don't know HOW they can make the signs/flags more obvious or simpler to understand - IMO it's as simple and pervasive as it can get and Darwinism just needs to kick in at some point.

Perhaps a "Burma Shave" type sign campaign down 331?

Thanks for your input. We only wish it was as obvious as we think. As far as the flag warning colors go, we use the official flag system of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Whether a visitor comes to South Walton or South Florida the flag colors and meanings are consistent. These flag colors are also used by local media and the Weather Channel. What we need to do is highlight the importance of obeying the flag colors.

Smiling Joe, would you be willing to discuss what it feels like to be caught in a rip and how you escaped?

I'd have to make up the scary stuff, because I don't think it is scary at all if you know how to wait it out. I'm not sure how to get the seriousness across to the public, which for the most part is totally unaware of what to do when caught in a rip current. Maybe video taping someone getting swept out by a rip current would help teach people how to escape, but I don't know many tourists who would watch it. Maybe someone could do a quick documentary, interviewing family members of people who drowned due to rip currents. Mix in some footage of how to wait them out, or swim parallel to shore. Perhaps the local movie theaters could show the quick clip in the commercials prior to the feature. Seems like many beach goers go to the movies while on vacation. Maybe they could also be distributed by the TDC to every rental unit, to keep in the rooms, with the hope that maybe some of the people will watch it at some point in time.

I'm glad TDC is doing this, and I think that SJ's idea is a grayt one about the video. SJ, tell us more please. How far did you ever get pulled out. What do you mean by wait it out? Do you mean, don't panic, remain calm, and let it pull you. Is it easy to stay on top if you don't panic, or do they pull you under too? That's the part that freaks me out, if it pulled me under. Otherwise, I'm pretty good at staying calm in emergencies otherwise. I put the newspaper diagram and the crabby pamphlet in my rental. Now if only I could rent the thing.

Undertow and rip current are two different things. Undertow has a downward pull and rip current has an outward flow. I've never swam into ripcurrents. I have used ripcurrents to get my kayak through the waves, and the rip currents will basically shoot you away from the beach fairly quickly, so its no wonder that people freak out if they are caught in them. The wait it out means just that. Tread water. On calm days, I can almost float in the Gulf without doing anything. It doesn't take much effort to tread water if you are calm about it. The rip currents typically don't extend too far out, and you will eventually get pushed out and back to shore by the waves, if you are calm and relaxed and just treading water. I'll gladly demonstrate this using my kayak, without paddling, except for balance, if someone wants to tape it, if they thought it would be helpful in saving lives. I bet we could even get some SoWal lifeguards to give an example in the water. I don't like the swimming with the Sharks, so I'll stick to the kayak, ; ) otherwise....

Note that for faster return to the beach, it is recommended that one, who gets swept out by a rip current, swim parallel to the beach, to escape the push of the rip current. Then, once out of the current (and you will know when you are out), swim with the waves toward the shore.

Thanks for your input. We only wish it was as obvious as we think. As far as the flag warning colors go, we use the official flag system of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Whether a visitor comes to South Walton or South Florida the flag colors and meanings are consistent. These flag colors are also used by local media and the Weather Channel. What we need to do is highlight the importance of obeying the flag colors.

Smiling Joe, would you be willing to discuss what it feels like to be caught in a rip and how you escaped?

I have a friend who I work with who almost drowned a couple years ago while trying to save some kids from an undertow or rip current. He wound up being airlifted to Pensacola. Fortunately, all survived. He may be willing to relate his story...

That was in Grayton Beach, by the way. Maybe somebody on the board will remember...

The Beaches of South Walton TDC is gearing up for their 2008 Beach Safety Campaign. This year, we want to take the program to the next level by providing real life stories of residents or visitors surviving a rip current. We want to know how it feels, what you did you escape and anything else you'd like to share about your experience. If you have story, please e-mail tlouthain@beachesofsouthwalton.com.

Thanks for helping us improve our campaign.

I would like to offer our media outlets to share your information to others as well. Please feel free to call me or PM me to see what we can do to help make the public aware. We have 3 TV stations and 4 Radio stations currently that can help spread this information not only in this area but in South Alabama and Mississippi as well. My cell # is 334-488-4001 or PM me.

Thanks for the info, SJ.

singinchicken, I'm glad your friend made it out alive!

Fortunately, I've never had to deal with a rip current,nor has anyone in my family. But we have two rental cottages in Seacrest Beach and we framed those nice crab posters you put out and put them right next to the dining room table so that guests are likely to see them. We'll probably frame a few more (they're pretty nice framed, small but colorful and the frames are inexpensive ones from Target) and put them in the bathrooms because we're pretty sure people will read them in there. It's often the visitors to the area who aren't aware who get taken away by the rip currents. I tell them to "think like a local" and pay attention to the flags -- guests like to think they're "thinking like locals". Thanks for your efforts in keeping the citizens and guests safe.

You can do almost everything, but some idiot will always feel superior to mother nature and warnings and go in. Currently every renter that comes into our office is forcible made to go over the flag system pamphlet (we always give kids the seymore coloring book since they love to point out mommy or daddy is doing something there not supposed to), we make it clear that the aussie guy will arrest them if they don't listen, we have magnets on the fridge, we put the window clings on the sliding glass doors and front door (if glass), and yet some people still don't get it. How about a forced orientation as they come down 331? They have to pull in, watch a video, and take a 10 question test? I like the idea of a DVD in rental units, but then you have people that will take them as mementos. The other issue with the DVD would be the cost, there are probably 4k-5k rental units in South Walton.

Beach Info, can you shed some light on the new signs being erected? How was the color chosen? Why are the high one's so darn high? How much did the entire project cost? etc. thanks.

sowalgaboi, regarding costs of DVD's, copying 5000 DVDs shouldn't be too expensive, less than $2 each, and could be much less when purchased in bulk. Compare that to the expense of the emergency response team to respond to one drowning victim, and you will see that the costs decrease for every victim not needing to be rescued. I bet the emergency room bill for one person would also be pricey. The DVD costs could also be offset with advertising dollars, making it no cost. Remember, the TDC is funded from bedtax dollars and the tourists are paying for their own DVDs.

When they get the expanded four lane toll bridge built, maybe they could hand out pamphlets on how to escape and survive rip currents. You would have a captured audience for the next five minutes, prior to them hitting the beach.

Beach TV has run some very good PSA's in past about the dangers at the beaches and the flags and what they mean...

sowalgaboi, regarding costs of DVD's, copying 5000 DVDs shouldn't be too expensive, less than $2 each, and could be much less when purchased in bulk. Compare that to the expense of the emergency response team to respond to one drowning victim, and you will see that the costs decrease for every victim not needing to be rescued. I bet the emergency room bill for one person would also be pricey. The DVD costs could also be offset with advertising dollars, making it no cost. Remember, the TDC is funded from bedtax dollars and the tourists are paying for their own DVDs.

When they get the expanded four lane toll bridge built, maybe they could hand out pamphlets on how to escape and survive rip currents. You would have a captured audience for the next five minutes, prior to them hitting the beach.

I have always wondered why "victims" who go out when a red or double red flag is flying are not charged for the cost of rescuing them?

I have always wondered why "victims" who go out when a red or double red flag is flying are not charged for the cost of rescuing them?

Ditto!!!

Wow! Love how you guys think! The DVD is a great idea. We could play in the Visitor Center, offer in rental units and offer to local movie theaters. We didn't budget for that this year but will definitely get cost quotes for next.

Smiling Joe - I'd like to take you up on that demonstration. Please contact me offline (tlouthain@beachesofsouthwalton.com).

Beach House 25 - I really appreciate the offer and will definitely be in touch.

SinginChicken - If you're friend is willing. I'd really like to talk to him. That is the number one way people drown is saving someone else. If we can use his story to drive that message home and safe a life. Wow!

Please keep the ideas coming!

I'm concerned that the tourists who do actually watch the dvd will think they don't have to obey the flags because they now know how to "beat the rip currents".

I'm all for charging the idiots who won't stay out of the water when there are red flags and endanger those who try to save them.

Kudos on the flag system! It is so easy to understand and well publicized I have friends WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN HERE who know how it works.

Beach Info, I'm a bit wimpy when it comes to all things cold, unless it is a cold beer. We'll have to wait til the water warms a bit in Spring before I get out there. You can reach me by pm on here.

Mr. New Yorker (actually a proud Bostonian) got caught about four years ago when we were at SOWAL in a rip current. He's not a strong swimmer, but he knew NOT to fight it, and he swam parallel to the to beach for some time, before it released him and he was able to glide into the shore and then walk back to our beach blanket. Its become a legend in our family--macho son knows this well now. We love SOWAL, but we respect the fact that the ocean dictates the rules, not us.

Fairly certain there are more than 5000 rental units in SoWal...

You can do almost everything, but some idiot will always feel superior to mother nature and warnings and go in. Currently every renter that comes into our office is forcible made to go over the flag system pamphlet (we always give kids the seymore coloring book since they love to point out mommy or daddy is doing something there not supposed to), we make it clear that the aussie guy will arrest them if they don't listen, we have magnets on the fridge, we put the window clings on the sliding glass doors and front door (if glass), and yet some people still don't get it. How about a forced orientation as they come down 331? They have to pull in, watch a video, and take a 10 question test? I like the idea of a DVD in rental units, but then you have people that will take them as mementos. The other issue with the DVD would be the cost, there are probably 4k-5k rental units in South Walton.

Alas, [sigh] another one trying to delegate common sense or any sense at all.
First of all, the "aussie" guy has NO arrest powers... period, thank god. That is is you would need to get him on a day when he's actually somewhere in south walton and not on some "walkabout."

Secondly, there is "Forced orientation" its called the Gulag or the inquision or some other silly foreign word like that and I would prefer not to have to denigrate myself in such a manner in the name of "beach saftey."

Speaking of beach saftey, I think I would rather be waterboarded than be exposed to another "wave" of material that few people ever follow. Is there a need for information? Sure, but to try and rationalize the expense of stolen taxpayer dollars by the TDC is frivoluous and foolhardy. We are in the midst of a tax revolt [rollback] and all the government types are walking around with blinders on, a finger in both ears goin "La,la,la,la,la,la,la,la,la. When I go to the mountains and see the "Warning bears about" sign I don't turn around and run back to the car after driving for eight hours, I'm going for a walk. The same gos for the guy coming to the beach, he's goin in the water. Give him the info, what he does with it is his problem.

I would love living in a Nanny state. I would never have to think for myself again! LOL


NOT!!!!!!!!!!!

I have always wondered why "victims" who go out when a red or double red flag is flying are not charged for the cost of rescuing them?

In Colorado, at the hiking/cycling trail heads, they have signs that say, in effect, "if we have to come rescue you, we will charge you the cost of the rescue". It's a sober reminder of the dangers in nature and the very real cost of trained rescue personnel and equipment.