Shark Attack

[Smiling JOe]

First of all, could a lifeguard sitting on the beach have seen the shark at 100-250 yards out that started this thread? Could he/she have done anything?

Secondly, my baby (now 14) was raised in this Gulf. We have always respected the Gulf for its many "gifts" (Opal, sharks, jellyfish, Ivan etc.) and we taught her accordingly.

I agree completely with lenzoe who says "I completely disagree. Government is not our baby sitter..."

We have got to watch out for ourselves, our loved ones and understand the risks that we undertake in delving into the undersea world. Paraphrasing another poster who pointed out very well, "once we enter the ocean, we take a dramatic step down the food chain".

I'll take the personal responsibility for my family in lieu of a lifeguard. Question is, who educates (and protects) the tourists?

I here you loud and clear regarding gov't. I just want to clarify my earlier post. In the County's past discussions of lifeguards, sharks have not been the reason for wanting them -- Rip Currents are the reason. I wish I had the answer as to how to educate the public to the degree that they would not go swimming when the red flags are flying, but I think some people just don't care -- maybe they want to live on the edge. Those are the very people who put others at risk who try to save them.

 

[Bob]

First of all, could a lifeguard sitting on the beach have seen the shark at 100-250 yards out that started this thread? Could he/she have done anything?

Secondly, my baby (now 14) was raised in this Gulf. We have always respected the Gulf for its many "gifts" (Opal, sharks, jellyfish, Ivan etc.) and we taught her accordingly.

I agree completely with lenzoe who says "I completely disagree. Government is not our baby sitter..."

We have got to watch out for ourselves, our loved ones and understand the risks that we undertake in delving into the undersea world. Paraphrasing another poster who pointed out very well, "once we enter the ocean, we take a dramatic step down the food chain".

I'll take the personal responsibility for my family in lieu of a lifeguard. Question is, who educates (and protects) the tourists?

A lifeguard wouldn't let someone swim so far out. If that kid had someone looking out for her, she would be alive today. Secondly lifeguards, generally sit in wooden chairs that are 8-10 above the ground to give them line of sight. It's all the difference in the world to spot someone in trouble, or something in the water. This is not a "get government off my back" issue. It's a common sense safety measure that communities take when large groups of people swim in close proximity.

 

[beachmouse]

Large, heavily-used public beach or private beach area? Taxpayer-funded lifeguards at the big well-used public beaches can make sense. But when you're talking a private beach area like Sandestin, then I see it becoming the company/neighborhood association's responsibility for level of safety service.

 

[lenzoe]

Then if not goverment, where were the supervising adults? Notice I said in areas of high concentrations of people. When people are massed together in close proximity, it's already a public pool. More people, more problems. Lifeguards along those streches of condo canyons will save lives. An alert lifeguard sitting 8-10 feet up in a chair can spot large things in the water you would not see. I think it's perfectly sane too tell someone swimming at 200 yards to come in. It's just like the intersection needing a traffic light. After a certain number of deaths, folks will not tolerate the outcome.

There's a difference between expecting the county to put a stoplight at an intersection -- to stop motorists from killing each other -- and asking the same entity to protect us from nature and the elements.

I'm sure lifeguards would save lives. So would increased regulation on motorcycling, hang-gliding, rock-climbing, and any other activity you can think of. That doesn't mean we as a society should agitate for or expect some organization to protect us during recreation.

I appreciate government in an educational role. I disagree with government in a protect us from ourselves role.

And no matter how many people are in it, the Gulf is not a pool. Lifeguards CAN kick you out for peeing in a pool.

 

[chikida]

I have enjoyed the clean water so much that I completely forgot that the June Grass never rolled in this year.

I'm actually glad to hear the June grass did not show up this year for purely selfish reasons. Then again, every year we've come to visit it's been something different. We'll never forget the last red tide anytime soon, that was quite a spectacle and an educational experience I don't think I need to see again. So how has the mood at the beach been? Are people venturing out in the water? My guess is that the atmosphere is a little tense and I'm sure everyone is keeping a closer eye on the water. I'm just curious as to how far people are going out.

Have been keeping an eye on TS Bret but it doesn't look like it'll be a factor in the coming days. Has anyone noticed the tide picking up at all?

 

[chikida]

There's a difference between expecting the county to put a stoplight at an intersection -- to stop motorists from killing each other -- and asking the same entity to protect us from nature and the elements.

I'm sure lifeguards would save lives. So would increased regulation on motorcycling, hang-gliding, rock-climbing, and any other activity you can think of. That doesn't mean we as a society should agitate for or expect some organization to protect us during recreation.

I appreciate government in an educational role. I disagree with government in a protect us from ourselves role.

And no matter how many people are in it, the Gulf is not a pool. Lifeguards CAN kick you out for peeing in a pool.

:clap_1: I agree with Lenzoe! Best use of tax dollars should be spent on keeping beaches clean and free of black flies and prohibiting stupid tourist stunts like driving on the beach without a permit!

 

[chrisv]

So how has the mood at the beach been? Are people venturing out in the water? My guess is that the atmosphere is a little tense and I'm sure everyone is keeping a closer eye on the water.

Traffic has been intense, don't know if that means folks are finding other things to do...

 

[Smiling JOe]

Traffic has been intense, don't know if that means folks are finding other things to do...

Overcast days, which we are having, send everyone shopping at the Discount Stores in Sandestin. If you are looking for Christmas-size crowds, go shopping today.

 

[Landlocked]

It took me four and a half hours to get home from Dune Allen Saturday. Normally a 3 hour drive. The main holdup was at the left you take in Freeport. And then there was a parade going on in Florala. All with a 1 year old in the back seat. Not a fun ride.

 

[chikida]

I'll take the personal responsibility for my family in lieu of a lifeguard. Question is, who educates (and protects) the tourists?

I feel the responsibility is a greater one as a tourist than with the locals. If anything, as a tourist, I feel obliged to step up my awareness whether that means keeping extra vigil when the cut opens up to the gulf or picking up trash at the beach to looking for swimmers in distress. Don't get me wrong, lifeguards add a level of security but I would question the overall value and impact they would have. If nothing else their presence may lead one to believe that nothing will happen and cuase us to be less alert. <p> I have watched my girls grow up at first hating the beach on their first visit because of its sheer vastness when they were little. Then they learned to love it and I've had to keep a close eye on them ever since. The daily tranquility can be enough to lull the most paranoid into a false sense of security. You guys know the many ways of the sea and her moods and you are ultimately wiser. For me it's an ongoing education where I walk away with sand between my toes and new information each time I come down.