LIHU‘E — The people who dedicate their time to improve ocean safety say it is painful that so many drownings occurred this year — but add that prevention efforts likely saved lives. Visitors make up 71 percent of Kaua‘i drownings
LIHU‘E — The people who dedicate their time to improve ocean safety say it is painful that so many drownings occurred this year — but add that prevention efforts likely saved lives.
Visitors make up 71 percent of Kaua‘i drownings and the effort to reach them with safety information is the goal of the Kaua‘i Lifeguard Association. They don’t want to discourage tourism, but members say they want visitors to return home safely.
“The Pacific Ocean is not a swimming pool,” said KLA President Monty Downs.
The fifth Water Awareness & Visitor Education program was held Thursday at the Marriott Resort and Beach Club. The event was designed for the visitor industry workers and about 30 hotel staff and concierge personnel on hand.
The KLA presentation explained the unique and sudden dangers of each island beach. The natural landmarks are destination points but the guidebooks don’t always explain the dangers.
Pat Durkin said visitors are not stupid but are less likely to recognize hazard warnings of the ocean, including rip currents, shore breaks, high surf, sudden dropoffs, sharp coral and slippery rocks. Even in the shallow water of Brennecke’s Beach, there were four cases of spinal trauma this year from boogie boarding, he said.
People also drown in a three-foot surf with a two-knot current, he said. Others suffer heart attacks while struggling against a current to get back to shore.
Data says people are injured or die because they did not know, or ignore the possible dangers, Durkin said. Informing people of the specific hazards at every location requires personal intervention.
“We don’t do anything to scare our visitors,” Downs said. “We all know that tourism is the life’s blood of our jobs, but we don’t really want to hide the fact that there are dangers.”
Queens Bath was described as public enemy number-one by Durkin. People stand on the rocks and when a wave strikes there is nothing around for them to grab hold.
Kaupea “Secret” Beach experienced three drownings this year, and nearly a fourth. Waiohai Beach in Po‘ipu has had six drownings in five years.
“Observe the conditions, obey the signs and have an emergency plan,” he said. “Even walking along the rocks and sand you can get pulled into a rip current.”
The KLA was instrumental with the first lifeguard towers about three decades ago. The current project is for more rescue tubes and hazard signage at unguarded beaches.
If you see someone pulled out to sea, KLA recommends locating a rescue tube, calling 911, and put on fins and swim the tube out to the victim, but only if you’re a strong swimmer.
Visitors can visit The Garden Island for a daily report on surf height and wind conditions.
KLA recommends watching waves for 20 minutes prior to going into the water. Throw a piece of driftwood in for an indication of whether the water is going in or out.
The No. 1 KLA message is to swim at guarded beaches.
“If you can’t see the lifeguard towers, then the lifeguards can’t see you,” said Dickey Chang, who presented the prevention video he produced that is now shown at the Lihu‘e airport.
Since 1990 there have been around 200 drownings on Kaua‘i, and 150 of them were visitors.
Many drownings aren’t from swimming out too far and being pulled out to sea. They happen when someone is knocked off the rocks or beach by a crashing or short-breaking wave and pulled out less than 30 yards from shore.
Durkin said the data is clear that only .0005 percent of drownings occur at guarded beaches.
“That is pretty low,” Durkin said. “None of the 11 drownings this year occurred at guarded beaches.”
KLA funding provided the Kaua‘i Water Safety personnel with Jet Skis, all terrain vehicles, and rescue tubes to help improve response time.
