Heed the red flag, folks

They had to helicopter a guy out this AM near Ramsgate access. Seems he went in to rescue kids caught in the rip tide, then got caught himself. My neighbors said the lifeguard said he was conscious and breathing, so I hope he and the kids turn out fine.

Right there at the beach access the sign says "If there is wind or a red flag, ankle deep is too far". Seems clear to me.

That is why I keep a life jacket in each of my cars. ;-)

Just a question. If there are life guards, why do the life guards let people go in the water when there's a red flag? Do they have the authority to tell people to stay out of the water. Not that they should have to because adults should be safety minded anyway, especially when it comes to their kids.

Just a question. If there are life guards, why do the life guards let people go in the water when there's a red flag? Do they have the authority to tell people to stay out of the water. Not that they should have to because adults should be safety minded anyway, especially when it comes to their kids.

I cannot recall which of the 6 beach accesses were to be stationed with lifeguards, but some people do not give a crap about no stinkin' lifeguard anyway.

RO said that he heard that two girls drowned today, and one was still missing this afternoon. I did see a Coast Guard search plane fly over the beach around 4:30pm. If I hear the story on the news, I will post it here. Otherwise, I do not know what happened, and this story of the two girls could be all rumor and guesses.

I can't speak to whether the drownings are rumor, but I know the incident I reported happened - I saw the helicopter landing about 10:30.

There isn't a lifeguard stationed at Ramsgate. Maybe someone called them.

So sad.

One thing I started doing this year is calling the guests who stay at our cottage rentals within the first few days of their trip to:

1. See if they have everything they need and if they have any questions.
2. Remind them of the beach flag system, let them know where the closest flags are, and ask them to take the warnings very seriously. I called them earlier today and told them that a few people almost drowned last week (I read that in the Walton Sun online over the weekend - lifeguard saved a child) and I wanted them all to stay safe.
3. Remind them to drive safely and let them know the police are out in the area and I wouldn't want them to get a $100+ ticket.

They really seem to appreciate the call from the owner of the cottage and, especially after reading this thread, I feel better having reminded them to stay safe. We spend most of our time on the phone talking about the fun stuff first, and then I remind them of the beach and road safety.

I also have the safety crab brochure cover with the flag system framed and put on the wall in the kitchen/dining area where people will notice it (master bathroom would be another good place to put it), as well as posted on the refrigerator.

From Ch 7, Panama City Beach, FL:
(no mention of the incident in Seagrove at this time)
**************************

One Drowns, Several Injured in Local Gulf Currents

It?s been a deadly afternoon in the Gulf at Panama City Beach. In a span of one hour local authorities were called to six water rescue calls.

One person drowned, a 20-year-old white male believed to be a spring breaker. His identity has not been made public.

document.write(''); He was found floating in the Gulf behind Top of the Gulf and Moon Drifter condominiums. That's in the 8800 block of Thomas Drive.

Witnesses say the man had apparently been floating under the water for a couple of minutes before he was rescued. He died enroute to the hospital.

One other person was hospitalized from water rescue calls Tuesday afternoon and several others were treated at the scene.

All involved were believed to be spring breakers.

Red Flags have been flying all day warning swimmers of the rough Gulf conditions.

So sad.

One thing I started doing this year is calling the guests who stay at our cottage rentals within the first few days of their trip to:

1. See if they have everything they need and if they have any questions.
2. Remind them of the beach flag system, let them know where the closest flags are, and ask them to take the warnings very seriously. I called them earlier today and told them that a few people almost drowned last week (I read that in the Walton Sun online over the weekend - lifeguard saved a child) and I wanted them all to stay safe.
3. Remind them to drive safely and let them know the police are out in the area and I wouldn't want them to get a $100+ ticket.

They really seem to appreciate the call from the owner of the cottage and, especially after reading this thread, I feel better having reminded them to stay safe. We spend most of our time on the phone talking about the fun stuff first, and then I remind them of the beach and road safety.

I also have the safety crab brochure cover with the flag system framed and put on the wall in the kitchen/dining area where people will notice it (master bathroom would be another good place to put it), as well as posted on the refrigerator.

Very nice touch Paula. It also lets them know that there's a real family that owns this place and reminds them to treat it like your home. Good Idea. Don't forget the dunes! :clap_1:

That is why I keep a life jacket in each of my cars. ;-)

That is an excellent idea SJ. It appears the man in south walton went in after his daughters. They managed to get out of the rip tide but he could not. He was breathing when he was Air Hearted. Also heard that someone was ticketed $250 for going into the water with double red flags flying. Hope this is true.

This is just harrowing. Paula once again I have to say I like your style.

Question about the flag system: I don't know if I've ever noticed that there is a flagpole near our beach access for Seacrest/Sunset Beach, though I've seen them elsewhere. Anyone know if there one? If not, how will our guests know the conditions? Is there a phone number they can dial so I can make our guests aware? Is the daily flag color listed online somewhere?

Thanks for any help.

This is just harrowing. Paula once again I have to say I like your style.

Question about the flag system: I don't know if I've ever noticed that there is a flagpole near our beach access for Seacrest/Sunset Beach, though I've seen them elsewhere. Anyone know if there one? If not, how will our guests know the conditions? Is there a phone number they can dial so I can make our guests aware? Is the daily flag color listed online somewhere?

Thanks for any help.

Yes, on the home page of www.swfd.org (South Walton Fire District)

That is an excellent idea SJ. It appears the man in south walton went in after his daughters. They managed to get out of the rip tide but he could not. He was breathing when he was Air Hearted. Also heard that someone was ticketed $250 for going into the water with double red flags flying. Hope this is true.

Well, I know my day is coming when I could be standing there on the beach trying to make that life or death decision, and a lifevest is an easy choice, esp since I already own them to use with my kayaks.

Note, never go in without one because a drowning person will put you under if it means they could survive -- just survival instinct that is not easily over-written.

If you ever go in to rescue, grab a floatation device of some sort before you do!

Blurb from the Daily News on the Seagrove case:

"The man, whose name was not released, swallowed salt water and suffered from exhaustion. He was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital."

No condition for the man was given in the report.

The man, whose name was not released, swallowed salt water and suffered from exhaustion.

My neighbor said the lifeguard told her the guy was out there 40 minutes before he was rescued.

This is so sad. Which Ramsgate did this happen at?

Rip currents claim more victims



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 22, 2006
By Gwen Break/The Sun
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Three people were transported to area hospitals on Tuesday, one by air ambulance, after getting caught in rip tides near Eastern Lake in the Gulf of Mexico around 10:15 a.m.
According to South Walton Fire District Deputy Chief Sean Hughes, two teen girls were on the beach when rescue officials arrived. A third victim, father to one of the girls, was approximately 250 yards offshore.
The man was in the water for about 30 minutes before rescuers could launch a personal water device and reach the man and affect a rescue.
The man had apparently gone into the water to rescue the two girls who got into trouble while swimming. He became separated and was pulled out by rip tides.
Once on the beach he was transported by AirHeart to Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast.
Both SWFD and Sacred Heart refused to release information on any of the victims citing HIPPA regulations.
At the time of the rescue, there was a red flag posted in one direction and a yellow flag in the other as they were in the process of being changed, said Hughes.
To the east in Bay County, an international student enrolled at an Alabama college drowned in the Gulf of later that day, according to a Panama City Beach police official.
Maj. David Humphreys said police are investigating the death of the 23-year-old Uzbekistan man who was pulled from the water behind Club La Vela at about 3:45 p.m.
He was an inexperienced swimmer and according to police officials, the victim?s roommate said despite the red flags, they were in the water together most of the day. The roommate told police they were in chest-deep water when the current began to pull the 23-year-old away from shore.
Rescue officials cautioned area visitors to look for the warning flags on the beach and heed them. A yellow flag indicates swimmers should use caution as conditions are favorable for developing hazards. A red flag indicates extremely dangerous conditions exist. Double red flags mean the water is closed to swimming.
In Walton County, those entering the water on a double red flag can be assessed a $200 fine.
This is the first year Walton County lifeguards are on duty at public beaches. On Tuesday, the nearest lifeguard to Eastern Lake was at the Santa Clara public beach access, approximately one mile to the west. The lifeguard there did run the mile to assist in rescue efforts.
Beach goers can check which flags are flying before departing by logging on to www.waltonsun.com or www.swfd.org.

Reporter Paul L. Mikolajczyk, of the News Herald in Panama City, also contributed to this article.

This is just harrowing. Paula once again I have to say I like your style.

Question about the flag system: I don't know if I've ever noticed that there is a flagpole near our beach access for Seacrest/Sunset Beach, though I've seen them elsewhere. Anyone know if there one? If not, how will our guests know the conditions? Is there a phone number they can dial so I can make our guests aware? Is the daily flag color listed online somewhere?

Thanks for any help.

Thanks for the kind words, Cork and TooFarTampa, and for the link to swfd.com SJ. Calling guests is one way to keep them safe, and I also get to know what's going on because I ask about the beaches and area. I also get ideas for what I could do in the cottages for future guests as well.

From our beach access across from the Cottages at Camp Creek, the flag pole is between 1/4 - 1/2 mile west. It's a bit tricky to see and you sometimes have to walk toward it to see it, but it's well worth the short walk to check.

Thanks for the link SJ. I am going to have to provide it to my renters and check out the location of the flag the next time I'm up there. Once again this is a good reminder to help guide our visitors by giving them local information.

Thanks for the link SJ. I am going to have to provide it to my renters and check out the location of the flag the next time I'm up there. Once again this is a good reminder to help guide our visitors by giving them local information.

TFT,
I am almost positive the flag that is visible from our access is at Rosemary Beach.

That is why I keep a life jacket in each of my cars. ;-)

I also keep a mask and medical gloves in my car after confronting an auto accident several years ago and being fearful of getting HIV, hep, or whatever from being exposed to blood from the injured persons. When this situation happened, I was haunted for days with regret for leaving the victims and merely driving to the closest phone (didn't have a cell phone with me), yet assured that I had made the right decision to protect myself, and indirectly my family, from a life-threatening disease. Now with gloves, etc., in my car I don't have that monkey on my back.

This is so sad. Which Ramsgate did this happen at?

why do people always assume they are infalliable?? so so sad that warnings are ignored due to lack of respect for the forces of nature....something to always be aware of!!!! If one is venturing into unknown territory one should always be prepared and knowledgeable of the facts and nuiances of that territory...no matter how beautiful and seductive it may be

Does anyone know the age of the two girls who the Dad was trying to rescue?

Does anyone know the age of the two girls who the Dad was trying to rescue?

The article from the Walton Suns says they were teenagers.

The signs are a good start, but when people arrive at the beach, how likely do you think it is that they will stop to read the signs vs immediately walking on the sand and dipping their feet in the water? After a 9 hour drive, what would you do?

Does anyone see a problem with this picture?

Does anyone see a problem with this picture?

What does Orange mean? Or is that yellow?