drink to prevent dehydration and sun- 

 glasses to cut down on glare from the 

 water and sand. If older adults and chil- 

 dren are among your beach party, bring 

 a beach umbrella to offer respite from 

 the sun. 



2. Choose a beach that has a life- 

 guard or is monitored by a beach patrol. 

 "I always swim where there's a life- 

 guard," Dabrowski says. "If I was 

 someone who didn't know much about 

 the beach, I would sure swim near 

 someone who did know 



something about it." 



3. As soon as you ar- 

 rive on the beach, check with 

 the lifeguard about ocean 

 conditions. Ask about the 

 location and strength of the 

 backwash, rip currents and 

 longshore currents; the possi- 

 bility of submerged hazards 

 such as groins, loose pilings 

 or old fishing piers; the 

 prevalence of jellyfish and 

 stingrays; and the depth of 

 the nearshore waters. For example, ask 

 how fast the beach drops off beneath 

 the breakers and whether there are any 

 nearshore holes or gullies. 



4. Heed what the lifeguard says or 

 any warnings posted. When rip currents 

 are frequent, Dare County officials 

 warn swimmers against swimming in 

 nearshore waters, says H.B. Sanderson, 

 director of Dare County Public Safety. 

 They announce the warnings through 

 local media and by posting red flags. 

 The town of Nags Head prohibits swim- 

 ming when the red flags are flying, and 

 violators are ticketed. 



5. Don't overdo. Don't run a 

 beach marathon during the heat of the 

 day unless you are conditioned for it. 

 Don't soak up too much sun. If you feel 

 compelled to tan despite dermatolo- 



gists' warnings, do so gradually by us- 

 ing sunscreens. Don't drink too much 

 alcohol. It can impair your judgment, 

 causing you to attempt feats beyond 

 your ability. 



6. If you are bringing children to 

 the beach, "always, ALWAYS watch 

 them," Dodge says. He cautions that 

 parents should keep small children 

 within arm's reach when they are play- 

 ing in the surf. "It's so easy for children 

 to step out over their heads and into 



Scott D. Taxi, 



trouble," Dodge says. 



As a further precaution, Dabrowski 

 advises parents to outfit their kiddies 

 with U.S. Coast Guard-approved per- 

 sonal flotation devices — life jackets — 

 when they are in the surf. If properly 

 fitted on the child, the life jacket should 

 buoy the child's head and shoulders out 

 of the water. But beware of the light- 

 weight, air-inflated floats and water 

 wings. Children develop a false sense of 

 security with these floats, which can be 

 easily punctured. 



7. Beware of other people on the 

 beach and their activities. During peak 

 summer vacation months, beaches and 

 nearshore waters swarm with people 

 who are sunning, swimming, fishing, 

 surfing, sailing and riding jet skis and 

 tandems. These activities are not always 



compatible, Dodge says. Be like the 

 defensive driver. Watch what you are 

 doing and what others are doing too. 



Sanderson says the growing use of 

 personal watercraft — jet skis and tan- 

 dems — and the danger they pose to 

 swimmers has caused some munici- 

 palities to limit or prohibit their use. 

 Although the craft are not a problem 

 along the Dare County beaches yet, 

 Sanderson predicts that municipalities 

 will begin regulating their use within 

 the next few years. 



Despite precautions, 

 accidents happen, and 

 that's why it is best to 

 choose a beach monitored 

 by a lifeguard. 



Contrary to the Holly- 

 wood image of the life- 

 guard as an empty-headed, 

 muscle-bound he-man 

 more intent on watching 

 women than beachgoers, 

 lifeguards are smart, well- 

 trained and physically 

 adept men and women 

 dedicated to beach safety, Sanderson 

 says. 



Before becoming lifesavers, Dare 

 County guards must complete a Red 

 Cross Lifesaving course, be currently 

 certified in cardiac pulmonary resusci- 

 tation (CPR) and pass a physical agil- 

 ity training test, Sanderson says. Un- 

 like lifeguards at swimming pools, 

 ocean guards must be able to run and 

 swim long distances, in other words, 

 be in top physical shape. 



"It's not an easy job," he says. 

 "Guards work 10-hour days. One hour 

 every morning is spent in ongoing 

 training; then they're in the sun an- 

 other nine hours. 



"They're exposed to the sun's 

 damaging rays, and now they have 

 potential for coming in contact with 

 HIV (the AIDS virus). They can't 



18 JULY/AUGUST 1993 



