Stay Out, Stay Alive!

There are certain things you can count on every summer at the Jersey Shore. Complaints about the weather (too hot, too much rain, etc.), traffic, crowds and more.  Add in bad rip tides and those that ignore the warnings to stay out of the water when lifeguards are NOT on duty.

As is often the case we have been experiencing bad ocean water for the past couple of weeks which has left many beaches flying red or yellow flags indicating that swimming is limited or not allowed.  For the most part even with red flags lifeguards will allow you to go in the water up to your knees but will prohibit boogie boards, especially for younger children and those older will need to have fins and a leash. It’s a bit more complicated when you see yellow flags as tides and other factors come into play.  More than likely it means you can swim in water waist deep and there could be restrictions on boogie boards and if conditions improve yellow flags can go green at some point during the day.

Of course the real problem is when lifeguards leave for the day and beaches are unprotected. Despite all the warnings about staying out of the water there are those who simply ignore them and test the ocean which may be inviting but is often very dangerous.  That’s because most rip currents can’t be seen by those that don’t know the water which means visitors to the Jersey Shore.

Seaside Heights, one of the best and safest beaches you’ll find anywhere when lifeguards are on duty was the site of a drowning earlier this week.  A family of five got caught in a rip just over an hour after lifeguards had left for the day.  Emergency responders, using jet skis, rescued four of them but a 31-year old who had drifted very far out was submerged when they got to him and despite their best efforts died.  That tragedy has left borough officials contemplating closing the beaches shortly after lifeguards leave for the day which would likely be based on water conditions.

I find myself frustrated by this almost annual event in which someone drowns on local beaches because they ignore warnings but regardless of what is done this will keep happening because visitors especially don’t appreciate how dangerous the ocean truly is.

When I was a kid I would always remember when lifeguards were finishing for the day longtime Seaside Heights Beach Patrol captain John Boyd getting on the PA system and saying, “stay out, stay alive.” No truer words were ever spoken.