Water Safety

As we get further into summer and the water is warming up, I thought it would be a great time to build off of last month’s FIRST AID KITS article and talk about water safety. Now, I’m not talking about the normal "wear a life jacket and don’t overload your boat" safety conversation. I am talking about what’s in the water that can hurt your safety. I first became certified to dive as a high school graduation present, and I have been going strong ever since. Back in 1977, a Peter Benchley book, The Deep, was made into a movie. Starring Nick Nolte, Jacqueline Bisset, who by the way spends most of her time in the water wearing a sheer white t-shirt (a fantasy maker for every guy in his 20s), and Robert Shaw from JAWS fame. In the movie, there is a lot of SCUBA diving. Robert Shaw plays the crusty old diver, so experienced he dives inside shipwrecks wearing old shorts and a shirt. Not knowing any better, my diving career started by wearing this type of garb, just to show how experienced I was. I had no idea at that time just how plain stupid and dangerous this was. You see, in our area and extending into the Keys and beyond, we are blessed with clear quality water to swim, boat, snorkel, dive, and just play in. BUT most people never realize that as clean as our water is, entering our saltwater environment with an open wound, think of a cut or even just a scratch or getting cut while in the water, like stepping on a sharp shell, can be a very serious matter. As I became a more knowledgeable diver, eventually an instructor for public and first responder divers, I became a strong proponent of wearing skin protection at all times. Here is the issue: as clean as our water is, in any open water, really, there is always the chance of getting an infection from open wounds while encountering fresh and saltwater. Although rare, as our waters warm, the chances of encountering bacteria increase. Known as flesh-eating bacteria, Vibrio vulnificus and Staphylococcus are two of the most severe life-threatening bacteria you can encounter. But don’t despair, appreciating our Gulf waters is definitely a great way to enjoy our area and your day. You just must know some safety rules and pay attention. So, what do we do? Well first, as I already said, don’t go in the water if you have any type of open wound. But let’s take this a bit further. If you have any surgical sutures, stitches, or fresh piercings, consider these open wounds. People mistakenly believe that salt water has curing or cleansing effects on a wound, but this is just not the case. Additionally, if someone has a compromised immune system, for example diabetes, recovering from an illness, or other weakened immune systems, these people should also stay out of the water. The second issue and the real problem is getting a cut while in the water. The most common way this happens is handling, stepping on, or bumping into a sharp object. Seashells, oysters, and barnacles are the most common ways to get cut. Remember, being in the water for a length of time softens the skin and increases the chance of a cut or scrape occurring. The first step in preventing infection is cleaning the wound properly. Use mild soap and clean water to gently wash the area. After cleaning, apply an antiseptic to reduce the risk of infection and cover the wound with a sterile bandage to keep it protected from dirt and germs. When someone gets cut, two of the signs and symptoms of these dangerous bacteria and infection are immediate infection of the wound; look for reddening and swelling around the wound, and painful to the touch within a few hours after the initial cut. With any cut or injury, even a scratch that doesn’t show signs of infection, it should be examined by a physician, think ER, and that person’s in-water time needs to be finished for the day.

The second water safety issue is rip currents. Every year, there are deaths caused by someone being dragged out into deeper water by a rip current, panicking, and drowning. Most times when I see information on a rip current, it describes how to swim sideways or parallel to shore to get out of the current's offshore pull. My thought is, how can we become aware of conditions, so we don’t get dragged offshore in the first place? I think that’s an important part of the conversation. Rip currents don’t normally just jump up out of nowhere. Often, there are clear signs that a rip current is present and that you would want to be on the lookout for. Before you ever get to the beach, research the area. Is that beach known for rip currents? Many East Coast beaches have a history of rip currents; our calmer Gulf beaches are not so bad, but it can still occur. Checking into the local knowledge can be a big help in planning your day and your level of awareness of the conditions in general. When you get to the beach, stop and study the water. The water in front of you should look uniform; the water comes in smoothly to the beach and goes back out. There should be no noticeable difference in that line of water. What might those differences be? A big tell is a gap in the breaking waves, which may appear as a darker, smoother patch of water. This will appear to be a noticeable break in the pattern of the waves – the water often looks flat in the rip, in contrast to the lines of breaking waves on either side of the rip. You might also see a noticeable color difference between the current and the surrounding water. Rip currents are caused when the breaking waves create variations in water pressure and flow. Water moves toward the shore with the waves and then seeks a way to return to the sea. The water often narrows down through areas where there is less resistance, such as gaps between sandbars, creating a stronger volume of water moving offshore. One last thought, if you have what I call a sheepdog mentality, an innate desire to save a life, I commend you for that but be smart about your actions. When you pack that bag and cooler for that day at the beach, perhaps if and only if you feel you could safely effect a rescue, you might want to consider packing an inflatable life jacket that can be quickly donned. Sadly, many strong swimmers attempting to rescue a person in trouble perish themselves while trying to save a life. With in-water safety, like any other medical emergency, you should always try to think ahead and be prepared! Like the old saying goes, “safety is no accident,” but how do we accomplish that? How about planning, training, awareness, and conversations with other people in our social circle about staying safe while we are having fun in what is frankly one of the greatest places to live and enjoy? And one last thing - take a first aid class! The Marco Island Sail and Power Squadron and the Marco Island Fire Department offer classes in our area almost every month. Contact the Marco Island Fire Department or go to the Marco Island Sail and Power Squadrons website, www.marcoboatingclub.org, call 239-393-0150, or stop by the training center at 1114 North Collier Boulevard.