   The beaches with the highest number of accidents are also those with the highest number of tourists, such as Manuel Antonio, Parque Marino Ballena, Ventanas, Cocles, Manzanillo and Tamarindo. - Red Cross courtesy photo - |
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 Published Monday, September 14, 2020 Rip
current accidents increasing
Red Cross paramedics call on tourists who visit the beaches to increase safety measures to avoid accidents or deaths caused by rip currents. According to lifeguards, there has been an increase in rip current-related accidents in the last week, when 7 people were subtracted. The beaches with the highest number of accidents are also those with the highest number of tourists, such as Manuel Antonio, Parque Marino Ballena, Ventanas, Cocles, Manzanillo and Tamarindo. In August, there was an increase of approximately 53,012 visitors on those beaches, the Red Cross said. Rip currents are rapids formed along the beach, heading out to sea, making it a highly dangerous situation even for expert swimmers. The rip current is created by the continuous crash of the waves on the shore. Once the waves reach the beach, the large volume of water returns through undersea channels. These dangerous currents originate in the sectors of the beach where there are no waves breaking. The color can be dark because it can carry sand or other sediments. It can also be seen as white foamy water or garbage over the water. These surface currents have a lower temperature than the water that surrounds them. The strong current drags a person, not allowing them to swim to shore, which causes them to get tired and sink. According to lifeguards, factors such as the beginning of the rainy season which increase wave velocity, can cause even stronger rip currents. Lifeguards recommend tourists to take the following precautionary measures to avoid accidents or deaths due to rip currents: • Avoid beaches that do not have lifeguards. • Always follow the recommendations made by local lifeguards. • If you are going into the water, stay in front of or near the lifeguard station. • Never leave children unattended at the beach. • Never swim alone. • Adults should stay in water at waist level. • Children should stay in water at knee level. • Never go into the ocean under the influence of alcohol or drugs. ------------------ What other advice would you give to avoid rip current accidents? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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