SETH EFFRON: Avoid tragedy at beaches and pools
EDITOR'S NOTE: Seth Effron is opinion editor for the Capitol Broadcasting Company.
North Carolinians have emerged from their COVID-19 pandemic-imposed cocoons. They’ve taken to the out-of-doors and headed to the beaches.
But the news hasn’t been all exuberant celebration.
Since early April there have been no fewer than nine reports of drowning deaths at lakes and beaches. Three died – including a well-known Raleigh lawyer, a man surf-fishing and an infant from Fayetteville – over the Memorial Day weekend. Two others died earlier after falling from boats and into the water.
A popular music teacher died in April at Kure Beach as she tried to rescue two kids caught in a rip current that had several swimmers in distress. The children were brought safely to shore.
Well more than a half-century has passed since my days of devotion to competitive swimming and being certified by the Red Cross as a water safety instructor. While my credentials for life guarding have long-since expired the lessons and warning remain fresh.
When I see and read the news of these drownings, those lessons hit home. While none of my “rescues” had the drama of pulling anyone from a rip current, I plucked my share of struggling bathers out of the water to safety.
Most significantly, I’d taught WAY more people – adults as well as kids -- how to swim than I ever had to rescue.
Over the last two pre-pandemic years (2018 and 2019) 52 North Carolina children died in drowning accidents. Rip current-related fatalities on the N.C. coast have increased from a dozen in 2017 to 17 in 2019. There isn’t any data on how many people lifeguards or other emergency services personnel rescued.
Not every drowning death can be prevented but many can be avoided with some basic precaution.
Everyone who is physically able, should learn to swim. It should be as natural as walking. It’s fun and it’s good for you. From World War II through 2006, a demonstrated ability to swim was a requirement for graduation from UNC-Chapel Hill.
- Never swim alone. Always be sure children are supervised – whether at the beach or a pool.
- Young children and inexperienced swimmers should wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.
- When boating, wear life jackets and have appropriate floatation devices available for emergencies.
- Heed rip current warnings --- both issued by the National Weather Service and posted on beaches. The National Weather Service has a website that provides the latest warnings for North Carolina beaches as well as tips on what to do if you are caught in a rip current.
There are more swimming and water safety tips from the Red Cross available here.
