As if there are not enough good reasons to avoid digging huge holes, I wanted to share a story I heard yesterday. About two years ago, a park employee was cruising the beach at Grayton Beach State Park on an ATV (as they apparently do most early mornings). She did not see a huge crater some idiot had excavated the day before;her ATV fell in, and she was thrown forward. Her face struck the steering column with such force she suffered severe fractures and facial trauma-she had to go to Jacksonville for reconstructive surgery!
Replies
27
SoWal Insider
:roll: This should be a sticky.
SoWal Expert
ouch!
Beach Fanatic
That is awful!! I have also heard stories of people becoming buried in sand holes. So dangerous.
SoWal Expert
Luckily, I have no injuries from my numerous falls into the holes. It is very easy to fall into one. You are walking on the beach, looking at the dolphin swim, or the sunset on the horizon, with nothing noticeable in your peripheral vision, then, suddenly you feel like an idiot for not seeing the hole in the beach. The white sand really doesn't show shadows and the only way you will see the holes is if you are looking directly at them in the daytime. I may go claim that big snow shovel which has been on the beach for a week in Seagrove, and start filling in holes on the beach when I get the urge.
Beach Fanatic
It is a proven fact that large sandholes can be fatal. We are constantly warning tourists with small children that playing in holes. A 2.5 year old almost died in Seagrove last year when a hole collapsed on a child that was playing in it. The child was barely saved by a stranger seeing an arm, while the mother thought the child was in the Gulf. I personally know someone whose 12 yr old nephew suffocated in a sand hole in his own yard. And I've read about some college aged kids who dug a huge hole and one of them fell in it while playing volleyball- it collapsed and not even several young men could pull him out. He died. It is almost a quicksand-type phenomenon that should not be taken lightly. And of course, holes screw with the turtles.
I always try to fill in, or make more shallow, holes I come across.
I always try to fill in, or make more shallow, holes I come across.
Beach Fanatic
On average, 20 people per year die in the US due directly to holes dug on beaches from either injuries from falling or from suffocation. Very needless and very preventable.
Beach Fanatic
July 14, 2008
ISSUE: Little-known danger at the beach: collapsing sand holes.
It is the first move for many children upon hitting any South Florida beach, sunscreen slathered on, bucket and pail in hand: digging a hole in the sand, all the way to China, if possible.
What most parents don't know is that this innocent task has at times turned deadly. It's still a rare occurrence, but considering how popular sand digging is among kids, it's worth a cautionary note as the summer season hits its stride. Two important things to know: Never let children dig deep holes, and never leave them unsupervised.
Harmless as it seems, hole digging can be unpredictable. The sides of a sand hole are unstable and can collapse, burying the child under mounds of suffocating weight. At that stage, rescue can be difficult: Sand is a lot like sugar in a bowl, filling in gaps as soon as they are formed and exasperating efforts to dig someone out of trouble in time.
It may sound far-fetched and overly cautious. After all, the greater dangers at the beach revolve around rip tides and other drowning-related perils.
Nonetheless, more than a number of children have been saved by quick-acting adults who knew how to create an air pocket around a buried head to buy time until they could be unearthed.
But for at least 38 children over at least the past 10 years, rescue didn't come in time and they perished, according to Dr. Bradley Maron, a Brigham Women's Hospital doctor who has studied the phenomenon and appeared on a recent NBC Today Show segment to warn parents of the little-known danger.
Maron said he has collected information on at least 62 incidents in all of people ? the average age is 10 ? trapped in collapsed sand holes.
The Today Show also quoted research that suggests more people die in sand holes than from shark attacks. Both are still extremely rare, but it's important that beachgoers become just as aware, and guarded, about one as they are the other.
That means keeping as watchful an eye on your child on the sand as you would in the water. Either could turn tragic for the beachgoer caught unaware.
BOTTOM LINE: Watch children on sand as vigilantly as in the water.
Copyright ? 2008, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
ISSUE: Little-known danger at the beach: collapsing sand holes.
It is the first move for many children upon hitting any South Florida beach, sunscreen slathered on, bucket and pail in hand: digging a hole in the sand, all the way to China, if possible.
What most parents don't know is that this innocent task has at times turned deadly. It's still a rare occurrence, but considering how popular sand digging is among kids, it's worth a cautionary note as the summer season hits its stride. Two important things to know: Never let children dig deep holes, and never leave them unsupervised.
Harmless as it seems, hole digging can be unpredictable. The sides of a sand hole are unstable and can collapse, burying the child under mounds of suffocating weight. At that stage, rescue can be difficult: Sand is a lot like sugar in a bowl, filling in gaps as soon as they are formed and exasperating efforts to dig someone out of trouble in time.
It may sound far-fetched and overly cautious. After all, the greater dangers at the beach revolve around rip tides and other drowning-related perils.
Nonetheless, more than a number of children have been saved by quick-acting adults who knew how to create an air pocket around a buried head to buy time until they could be unearthed.
But for at least 38 children over at least the past 10 years, rescue didn't come in time and they perished, according to Dr. Bradley Maron, a Brigham Women's Hospital doctor who has studied the phenomenon and appeared on a recent NBC Today Show segment to warn parents of the little-known danger.
Maron said he has collected information on at least 62 incidents in all of people ? the average age is 10 ? trapped in collapsed sand holes.
The Today Show also quoted research that suggests more people die in sand holes than from shark attacks. Both are still extremely rare, but it's important that beachgoers become just as aware, and guarded, about one as they are the other.
That means keeping as watchful an eye on your child on the sand as you would in the water. Either could turn tragic for the beachgoer caught unaware.
BOTTOM LINE: Watch children on sand as vigilantly as in the water.
Copyright ? 2008, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
Luckily, I have no injuries from my numerous falls into the holes. It is very easy to fall into one. You are walking on the beach, looking at the dolphin swim, or the sunset on the horizon, with nothing noticeable in your peripheral vision, then, suddenly you feel like an idiot for not seeing the hole in the beach. The white sand really doesn't show shadows and the only way you will see the holes is if you are looking directly at them in the daytime. I may go claim that big snow shovel which has been on the beach for a week in Seagrove, and start filling in holes on the beach when I get the urge.
SJ, if it is at the bottom of the Emeral Hill Condo stairs, it was there when we were there!!!! I put it next to the trash can thinking they would take it, but they never did. Go get it!!!!!
How sad for that poor girl!!!!
SoWal Expert
SJ, if it is at the bottom of the Emeral Hill Condo stairs, it was there when we were there!!!! I put it next to the trash can thinking they would take it, but they never did. Go get it!!!!!
How sad for that poor girl!!!!
That shovel is the size used at zoos to shovel elephant poop. I can't imagine why anyone would need a shovel that size at the beach!
SoWal Insider
That shovel is the size used at zoos to shovel elephant poop. I can't imagine why anyone would need a shovel that size at the beach!
Maybe you answered your own question.SoWal Expert
:shock:
superJfunn
i saw someone walking a pig in seagrove the other week
SoWal Insider
That shovel is the size used at zoos to shovel elephant poop. I can't imagine why anyone would need a shovel that size at the beach!
It is election season
Beach Fanatic
Once, when I took my border Collies to play frisbee on the beach last winter, the smaller one was running, anticipating only trying to catch the frisbee, she injured her paw when she landed in one of those darn holes!!! And her "paw-paw" was none too happy either!!!:angry:
Beach Comber
The wife walked the duck on a leash at a service station in Troy, Alabama. We were on our way to Atlanta. No one blinked an eye...:shock:
SoWal Insider
It is election season
beats on hood
Hey, Minnie, thanks for the link. We provide a desktop computer with high-speed Internet for our rental guests. I have it set up so that when they boot the computer, it automatically launches the browser with my renters' website as the home page. I added a link to your Sun-Sentinel article to the website so that our guests will be informed.
I have dug many sand holes in my life. Mom was gorgeous and loved to strut her stuff on the beach. We went to the St. Pete area for spring break, PC and Daytona for weeks in the summer, and Hollywood FL for New Year's. Hubby and I have carried on that tradition of being beach lovers, despite not being beautiful like Mom, continuing to dig holes in the sand with our daughter. I did not know until I was on this message board that digging holes in the sand is a dangerous practice. Just never thought about it.
Like I said in another thread, this board is so informative.
I have dug many sand holes in my life. Mom was gorgeous and loved to strut her stuff on the beach. We went to the St. Pete area for spring break, PC and Daytona for weeks in the summer, and Hollywood FL for New Year's. Hubby and I have carried on that tradition of being beach lovers, despite not being beautiful like Mom, continuing to dig holes in the sand with our daughter. I did not know until I was on this message board that digging holes in the sand is a dangerous practice. Just never thought about it.
Like I said in another thread, this board is so informative.
SWGB
BR, check this out for your webpage.
[ame="http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=11975"]If you have a website, please link to SoWal.com - SoWal Beaches Forum[/ame]
[ame="http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=11975"]If you have a website, please link to SoWal.com - SoWal Beaches Forum[/ame]
beats on hood
BR, check this out for your webpage.Unfortunately my website has the word "beachrunner" in it. The well-behaved rental guest might be offended if they see my rants regarding renters who abuse our home.
http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=11975
Maybe I should change the URL. Can't update it on the desktop until we're there next week with daughter and BF.
(BTW say
if you see us. I'm really bad with names and faces.)Just so y'all don't think I'm all biotch, we have have started giving $100 gift certificates to the restaurant of their choice to our well-behaved repeat rental guests.
OOPS! Sorry for the hijack. Thanks again for the info about digging in the sand.
Edited
Beach Lover
I am a wave runner. That is, I run in the surf year round. This summer, as in the past, I am nursing muscle pull injuries due to falling in holes that are soft but not visible in the morning tide!
I just don't get it. I heard a little brat *****ing because he had to fill a hole in one day. He was complaining about the F#@$%& turtles!
Anyone who has been in the water this week is welted up with jelly stings! Turtles eat jellies! There is an article in time magazine about how in the med they put up nets for swimmers, to protect them from jellies! Is that the future? Please tell the brats to behave, and wait till they drop out of school, then there will be plenty of time for digging!
I just don't get it. I heard a little brat *****ing because he had to fill a hole in one day. He was complaining about the F#@$%& turtles!
Anyone who has been in the water this week is welted up with jelly stings! Turtles eat jellies! There is an article in time magazine about how in the med they put up nets for swimmers, to protect them from jellies! Is that the future? Please tell the brats to behave, and wait till they drop out of school, then there will be plenty of time for digging!
Edited
Meow
I am a wave runner. That is, I run in the surf year round. This summer, as in the past, I am nursing muscle pull injuries due to falling in holes that are soft but not visible in the morning tide!
I just don't get it. I heard a little brat *****ing because he had to fill a hole in one day. He was complaining about the F#@$%& turtles!
Anyone who has been in the water this week is welted up with jelly stings! Turtles eat jellies! There is an article in time magazine about how in the med they put up nets for swimmers, to protect them from jellies! Is that the future? Please tell the brats to behave, and wait till they drop out of school, then there will be plenty of time for digging!
My hero....
SWGB
I am a wave runner. That is, I run in the surf year round. This summer, as in the past, I am nursing muscle pull injuries due to falling in holes that are soft but not visible in the morning tide!
I just don't get it. I heard a little brat *****ing because he had to fill a hole in one day. He was complaining about the F#@$%& turtles!
Anyone who has been in the water this week is welted up with jelly stings! Turtles eat jellies! There is an article in time magazine about how in the med they put up nets for swimmers, to protect them from jellies! Is that the future? Please tell the brats to behave, and wait till they drop out of school, then there will be plenty of time for digging!
Not likely, that would cause huge problems with the turtles.
Beach Lover
As firefighters and EMS providers we are often called to the beach for near and actual drownings. At such incidents we often employ a sheriffs pickup truck to haul us and the victim back to the road where the ambulance is. At one such incident a couple of years ago, one of our Paramedic Firefighters was thrown from the bed of the pick up when it ran through an unseen Touron Crater at 10 - 15 mph. As you can imagine this interrupted the care he was providing to our patient not to mention causing injury to the medic himself (he landed flat on his back after being thrown high enough to completely clear the back of the pick up). Fortunately the pt was strapped to a back board and did not receive further injury.
If you see these abandoned craters please do your best to fill them. The life you save may be mine.;-)
If you see these abandoned craters please do your best to fill them. The life you save may be mine.;-)
SoWal Expert
There was a man and his two children on Okaloosa Island this past week digging holes--deep holes--every five or six feet very close to the area where people walk up and down. I think they were looking for crabs. They must have dug 20 holes. I asked him if he was going to fill them in and he said no. I did. Pucker. 
Meow
There was a man and his two children on Okaloosa Island this past week digging holes--deep holes--every five or six feet very close to the area where people walk up and down. I think they were looking for crabs. They must have dug 20 holes. I asked him if he was going to fill them in and he said no. I did. Pucker.
I hope you pointed a finger at him. Idiot.
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