May 6, 2008

HEALTH MATTERS: Seasoned lifeguard promotes ocean safety

By LJ Anderson / Daily News Columnist

Surfers pride themselves on being "locals," possessing an intimate knowledge of local beach conditions unknown to the casual tourist. There's a lot to be said for local knowledge when it comes to Hawaiian beaches whose stunning beauty belies powerful currents and rapidly changing conditions. News accounts of neck injuries at places like Sandy Beach, drownings at China Walls or snorkeling misadventures at Hanauma Bay run in local island media, but such information is often unknown to the visitor. More than 7 million people visit Hawaii each year, a state with the nation's second-highest resident drowning rate (Alaska is first), and when visitors are included in that number, it may be the nation's highest.

In 1981, Ralph Goto applied to be head of lifeguard services in Oahu - and got the job. Over the past 27 years, as administrator of Honolulu's Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services (www.aloha.com/~lifeguards/wsafety), Goto has expanded the department from 25 to more than 200 employees, played a key role in the development of professional lifeguard services in Hawaii (the world's premier corps of lifeguards), enabled the pioneering use of Jet Skis in big surf rescues, and promoted ocean safety education to residents and visitors.



Q: What are visitors to Hawaii least knowledgeable about relative to drowning prevention?

A: Visitors need to understand that even though the Pacific Ocean that surrounds the Hawaiian Islands is warm, clear and inviting, there are some hazards that they should be aware of - especially, those related to surf, waves and currents. Hawaii has the largest ridable surf on the planet, with surf heights reaching over 30 feet during the winter from October to February. When large waves are generated thousands of miles away - the Aleutian Islands to the north and New Zealand to the south - the energy that is transferred in the form of breaking waves is tremendous. Even "small" waves are powerful here, and those who are not familiar with them should not enter the ocean. Generally, our advice to visitors encountering the ocean is to swim where there are lifeguards and if unsure about the conditions, consult the lifeguards before going in.


Q: What drowning hazards are unique to bodysurfing, kayaking and snorkeling?

A: Waves that are "good" for bodysurfing have steep faces and break in shallow water. Necks, backs, shoulders and heads are particularly susceptible to injury if one is pitched "over the falls" and lands on these body parts. Neck and spinal cord injuries are not uncommon and can result in paralysis or death.

Most of the hazards in ocean kayaking are related to strong winds - when people paddle to a destination with the wind behind them and then try to return against the wind. Fatigue may result in panic, poor judgment, and being separated from the kayak.

Contrary to popular belief, snorkeling is not without risk, especially for those who are not good swimmers or comfortable in the water. The snorkel allows you to breathe without lifting your head out of the water, and the mask allows you to see and prevents water from entering the nose. Most snorkeling incidents occur when the mask leaks and fills with water or when the snorkel fills with water and water is inhaled. This is definitely not a natural or comfortable phenomenon. The resulting struggle or panic can lead to serious physiological consequences, plus the fact that the person is in water - not his/her natural environment - which may exacerbate the sequence of events that lead to drowning.


Q: What are the best ways to prevent spinal injuries when using the ocean?

A: Know the environment you are entering by observing the conditions from the beach before entering the ocean. Waves arrive in sets so make sure you know how deep the water is, the timing of the waves, where the "impact zone" (where the waves break) is, and do not attempt to ride a wave by going straight down the face. Try to ride it at an angle and if you find yourself "free-falling" or getting pitched, protect your head and neck from striking the bottom.

Do not dive into any body of water until you know how deep it is, and that there are no submerged rocks or objects in the area. If "duck diving" under a wave, protect your head and neck as the water is shallow where the waves break.


Q: Since most beaches are not guarded, how does one safely use an unguarded beach?

A: We strongly suggest that people use beaches where there are lifeguards. Remote beaches where there are fewer crowds are also further away from emergency and rescue services.


Q: What are the key things that you have learned about drowning prevention over the years?

A: Drownings are preventable. Most people, including tourists, are not clueless, but they just need to be informed. To this end, we have developed a Web site that gives daily hazard conditions for the most popular beaches in the State of Hawaii (www.hawaiibeachsafety.org.) The site is designed for visitors to the islands or residents who want to know beach conditions before packing the cooler and kids in the car. We direct people to the site to get current and accurate information in order to make informed decisions about their beach activities. Hazard level information is updated every three hours, relying on data gathered from the National Weather Service buoy readings. The site also contains information about specific beach parks as well as links to other appropriate sites.



LJ Anderson writes on health matters every Tuesday. She can be reached at lj.anderson@yahoo.com.