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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2011-08-17, Page 22 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, August 17, 2011 Being safe at the beach Katle Brickman NI Agency No flags means no life- guards are on the beach. Water safety is a serious con- cern for boaters, swimmers, fishers, and lifeguards. Grand Bend beach is one of only a handful of beaches in Ontario with lifeguards still on patrol. The primary purpose of having lifeguards on patrol is to keep citizens safe and to offer assistance where possible. For Scott Ruddle, a 14 -year veteran with the Grand Bend patrol team, he would like to see more people paying attention to the warning flags that are on the beach. In Rud- dle's column last week, he described the three flag ..u()ii;l, August 19-25 30 MINU FES "'LESS I , I Fri & Sat 6:45&9:15 Sun - Thur 8:00 Nohow Owe lampap 1-800-265-3.138 system of green, yellow, and red and what those flags mean. lust like a stop light system, the flags are placed on the beach for swimmer safety when lifeguards are on patrol and when they are not there. "Not many places have lifeguards, he explained. "It comes down to dollars." Fortunately for Grand Bend, there is a rotating staff of 10 lifeguards that patrol AiWe are doing Tess rescues, but doing more first aid, public relations, missing person searches, assisting police and bylaws this summer." —Scott Ruddle A4RJP(I •~ (;rand Bend Community Foundation Thanks to you - We Made a Splash With Our Eco-Bashltl • Goan/ Dead C nseeitnity reendailen • ASC Natawaar • Nerals • Aotary N Orasd Nod • TO Friends oldie lav ea.*i t • kw Ara RaeM+earateatal Fwd of Loonies CNNwealty FewModea • AMrallle NyAold Ceiserraden Foai/aMea • Caroli.. Mom • Ami • Maes LaitbNn /caress 1lerr1ept11M s Cirporallei (for Cameron Britton lass Trio at the Great Lakes Chowder Competition) • Nay Caumwaisolleme (for the Photo Contest and Show) • Greed Send Log/en • Mende N the Pinery • Greed Nat/ OpditNees • Perdy'a Malterlea. • Aunt OuseWI • diN11We Picture Priming • Track 21 Graphite • Rivor Read Odbry • Part Franke Canters Club • Paddington's Pub • Oakwood Ian • Grand Mend Yacht Club • Henry's Camera • Repolee At Risk • Lakeshore Advance • KaaiPlu�p • union Ger • Mew, Melia • greeds Persons Speri.il thank% Inc • The Cbippewas of Kettle and Stony Point cad MMM far their geseroidir N Owe mom *eft .% aid a atatrerabla Wafer AMMttswleywuM Cerwtenyi • TW NIeAN/ Lambton Main Street Players fat lawlr aiferSaliat►eid aid MI% aaaarlawsel • The sate. *nay of volunteers wale amble Agtta/e s parulis emelt yowl Visit grandbendaquafest. a for 2011 hl phl(ghta and update; and plans for 20121 See us on You nater the beach from 11 In the morning until 6 p.m. So far this year, the lifeguards have had three rescue situations, the first involved two people and the second involved seven people that had went on an air mattress and needed the assistance of the lifeguards to be brought to shore safely. The latest inci- dent occurred on August 10th. "We are doing less rescues, but doing more first aid, pub- lic relations, missing person searches, assisting police and bylaws this summer," he explained. Ruddle said that because of the different sand bar this summer, the number of res- cues could be down from other years. This year, the usual two sand bars have come together to create one long bar that extends from shore to approximately 60 meters out. "With no second sand bar, there have been far less inci- dents of people getting into distress," he said. On windy days or after a rainy day, the water levels can look like fun for many people, but the overwhelming under- currents and big, powerful waves can prove to be too much for many swimmers. For Ruddle, he would like to see more people pay atten- tion to the flag system and lis- ten to the lifeguards on duty. "From a water safety per- spective, when people are on vacation, their brains go on vacation," he said. ""They want to relax and not have any cares, but the water envi- ronment is unforgiving." Two years ago when a safety audit was completed for Grand Bend after three people had drowned in three years, the flag system was implemented to alert people of the beach conditions. lhe green flag means the beach has little hazards. A yellow flag means there could he hazards on the beach, either that the waves are powerful because of strong winds and precautions should be taken when swimming. A red flag is set up when weather or beach conditions are not safe for swimming and people should not attempt to go in the water. "In order for a drowning to occur, it's like a puzzle piece that gets throw on the floor and after it takes time to put it back together," Ruddle said. is a priority Kati. Srlcknan OMI Agency Watching over the beach Lifeguard Scott Ruddle Is prepared to serve those beach goers with assistance or life saving rescues when needed. Ruddle Is a 14 -year veteran with the Grand Bend lifeguard patrol team. "All these things have to conte together, a life Jacket, having friends around to help, swim in proper places, and strong swimming skills" The lifeguards that are on patrol are continually edu- cated and working on emer- gency procedures. Every two years, all guards get recerti- fied and trained in oxygen therapy, CPR, and water front life -guarding. There are four types of life -guarding; water front, water park, surf, and pool. Ruddle believes that hav- ing swimming lessons or pro- grams for all public schools is a "great idea:' "In a country with some many pools, streams, lakes, etc, there is a minimal amount of swimming les- sons," Ruddle said. "Most people have a great time until panic sets in. As a poor swim- mer, why put yourself in that position?" Ruddle is a frill -time para- medic in London and has been a lifeguard for 25 years. Ile has a long list of qualifica- tions, as well as being an instructor and examiner. 1 le teaches oxygen therapy, (:PR, and is certified in all four types of life -guarding. 1,ife Jackets do save lives when wore properly and although it is not mandatory to wear one at the beach, Kiddie thinks that boats are a lot different. "People don't like to be dictated to, but life Jackets in boats are a different story, drownings usually occur without a life Jacket," he said. "Jackets should be manda- tory in power vessels as pr pie won't have time to re;, and grab it if the boat capsizes." Ruddle stated that the life- guards that are out on the beach are there to help swim- mers, assist in any way possi- ble and hope that people ask about the flags In place and where it is safe to swim. "What it comes down to is society needs to take more responsibility for their actions," Ruddle said. "1t is not necessary for more rules, hut don't have a good time at someone else's expense"