This isn't a job search post today - it's a public service notice.
I grew up a block from the beach in New Jersey. It was a wonderful place to grow up but we learned early to respect the ocean and the beach. Our moms went to the beach with us as we were growing up and even though the parent's "hung out" together, they all watched out for all of us.
Lately there have been a run of beach tragedies. There have been several drownings and this week there was also a suffocation from the sand collapsing on a young boy as he was digging a tunnel. The drownings all occurred after the lifeguards left for the day and most of the kids were from out of town. The suffocation happened to a local boy who dug a tunnel behind the life guard stand.
My dad taught us about spotting a rip tide and what to do if we ever got caught in one. He also told us that we must never, ever swim on an unattended beach. I've carried that message with me to this day and have drilled it into the heads of my kids. If you want to learn more about rip tides and how to handle them, please watch the 60 second video on this page.
Years ago I read of a college fraternity initiation where they buried the boys in the sand on Hell Night. One of the boys died when the sand collapsed and trapped him. That horrific story taught that while it's fine to dig small holes and tunnels at the beach, never make them deep or crawl into them and always fill them in once you or the kids have finished playing.
If you are a parent, you are responsible for your children; the lifeguards aren't baby sitters.
There is nothing better than going to the beach on a hot summer day and a little common sense and knowledge can save a life.
2 comments:
Thank you for reminding us to be more watchful when we are at the beach. The bottom line of this is to be responsible enough to the things we are doing. Let us always think of our safety!
Thanks for your comment Camilla. You're so right - we need to be mindful of what we (and our kids) are doing at the beach.
Nancy
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