One of the things I love about doing my blog is that I get to choose the subject I write about on any given day. I always dread reading that yet another person wandered out onto the sand bars just off the coast of either St. Simons Island or Jekyll Island, never to return. Unfortunately, that headline stood out on the front page of this morning’s copy of The Brunswick News. More people are saved by local emergency crews than perish, but that one person that does not make it might have lived had they been aware of the dangers in area waters. This is not just ocean water I’m talking about, but the many rivers and lakes we all enjoy.
It may interest readers to note that every six hours we experience a ten foot rise and fall of waters off our coast. As the tide changes strong rip currents develop between the shore and sand bars. Only the strongest swimmers can handle these currents and even that is not always the case. I am reminded of how dangerous the ocean can be when I read of another life lost. The power of water to pull you into the depths and prevent you from being able to break away is never to be underestimated. But Sunday’s tragedy did not involve high tide. It involved a person who was not a good swimmer venturing out onto a sand bar and going into the water just beyond the bar. It was low tide, but the deep water, for an inexperienced swimmer, meant the end of a young life. The two teens who accompanied the victim were saved.
Glynn County Police Chief, Matt Doering, was recently featured in an article in The Brunswick News regarding his concern over the dangerous currents around the sand bars. He advocates putting signs at all 35 beach entrances on St. Simons Island showing the sand bars at both high and low tide. He is also calling for a structure to be built on the beach that would house emergency kayaks and other equipment for rescuing swimmers. Monies for this project would be provided from police seizures of criminal contraband.
Dale Provenzano, County Commissioner representing St. Simons Island, also expressed concern over the situation. Mr. Provenzano is working on a plan that would increase water safety throughout the island, not just the beaches. I will be featuring a post on Mr. Provenzano and his plan in the near future. Bottom line, he feels that people must be educated so they know the potential danger and realize the need to be a strong swimmer before entering any waterway.
As our area grows and more people visit Coastal Georgia or move here as residents the issue of water safety grows. Please be informed about the dangers involved with changing tides and if you have not taken a certified course in swimming, do so. You can find out more about courses offered through our local YMCA here: http://www.ymcaofcoastalga.org/ymca/golden-isles/golden-isles-family-ymca or at St. Simons Health & Fitness Club here: http://stsimonshealthclub.clubhouseonline-e3.com
2 Responses
-
Margaret Singer Says:
Oh Melissa I enjoy your blogs so much! You have such a wide variety of subjects – all well-written and interesting! But what time of the day do you write them, for heaven’s sake!
-
Melissa Says:
Thanks Margaret! Thanks to modern technology, it’s easier than you might think! But it does keep me hopping!
