Lifeguards need your help

The Philips Fusion and the Honda Element U.S. Open of Surfing are in

town and have brought swarms of tourists to Surf City’s already

crowded beaches.

The unusually warm weather and water temperatures have been

packing the sand and surf for months. This has been a godsend for

businesses and a stress on lifeguards and police.

Since the summer began there have been three drownings off

Huntington Beach and a fourth just last week off Sunset Beach. There

have been numerous fights Downtown and in other areas, which have

resulted in one death, several stab wounds and at least one gunshot

wound. Police are working around the clock to prevent violence and

keep crowds calm.

But the ocean, as an adversary, is another story. Lifeguards are

not on duty all day and all night and beachgoers who plan to tangle

with the ocean should only go in after the guards are gone if they

know what they’re doing.

Two of the four drownings have taken place around sunset, when the

lifeguards have gone home for the day and swimmers were caught in a

current and swept out or under.

Safety personnel say drowning, in pools at least, are 100%

preventable. That may not be the case in the ocean, but there are

precautions that every swimmer can take.

* Always swim near a lifeguard. Choose a beach with lifeguard

protection and swim during hours when lifeguards are on duty.

* If you need help while in the water, signal for help by waving

your hand and arm above the water toward the shore. Lifeguards are

trained to recognize this sign.

* How to get out of a rip current: Rip currents are rivers of

water that can pull you out to sea. If you become caught in a rip

current, don’t panic. Swim parallel to shore or tread water until

help arrives.

* Alcohol and swimming don’t mix.

* Supervise your children even when lifeguards are on duty. They

are watching for problems, but can not see everything

* Consult lifeguards about ocean conditions before you go into the

water.

* Heed all warning signs -- they are there for a reason.

* Never swim alone.

* Never go out farther than you can swim.

* If you see someone in distress call for a lifeguard or dial 911.

If everyone heeds these tips it will help the lifeguards and

perhaps it can hold the number of drowning to four this summer.