As time goes on I wonder why Americans would willingly vacation in a country where there is no interest taken in the safety of tourists.
As time goes on I wonder why Americans would willingly vacation in a country where there is no interest taken in the safety of tourists. In Puerto Rico, Florida, Hawaii, California and other civilized parts of the Caribbean there are life guards there to prevent this. In January I had 3 weeks with no work, we decided to spend our vacation in Cancun through RCI instead of RD. There were lifeguards at our beach and we felt safe with two young ones. No sanky panky activity at the resort either.
No interest taken in the safety of tourists? Along the five mile stretch of beach that I walk in Bavaro - there are security guards and lifeguards along the entire stretch. Better than Cancun - and the waves are more calm.
I have seen the guys respond to an emergency in Bavaro and they are quick and professional.
When have you heard of FOUR tourists dying in Cancun ? I am sitting here in a "24 hour" zone checking DR1 because lights are out and we dont run AC on the inversor. The "custodian" at our building has not started the planta yet. If this country cant take care of its few economically solvent citizens who pay taxes and generate employment how can they take are of tourists at the beach ? If squalor, indifference and death are your thing so be it. We're out of here by the end of the year.
if its that bad...why wait till the end of the year?When have you heard of FOUR tourists dying in Cancun ? I am sitting here in a "24 hour" zone checking DR1 because lights are out and we dont run AC on the inversor. The "custodian" at our building has not started the planta yet. If this country cant take care of its few economically solvent citizens who pay taxes and generate employment how can they take are of tourists at the beach ? If squalor, indifference and death are your thing so be it. We're out of here by the end of the year.
it highlights the need for lifeguards at all public beaches .
This happened this afternoon and details are still coming in. This tragedy highlights the need for trained lifeguards on potentially dangerous beaches.]
I was a lifeguard and sometimes even with a lifeguard the person cannot be saved. What it really highlights is the need for people to respect the immense power of the ocean.
This happened this afternoon and details are still coming in. This tragedy highlights the need for trained lifeguards on potentially dangerous beaches.]
I was a lifeguard and sometimes even with a lifeguard the person cannot be saved. What it really highlights is the need for people to respect the immense power of the ocean.
it needs both. it needs to be a situation wherein people respect the powers of nature, and take steps to prevent the possibility of their demise. it also needs the purveyors of the tourist product to understand what they are selling, and to act accordingly to avert disasters like these.
the Dominican Republic sells sun and sand tourism. they are not selling trips to the Pyramids and the Sphinx, where pensive people ponder the magnificence of these artifacts of history in thoughtful serenity. they sell a product that attracts lager louts of all stripes, from all over the world, and drunkenness is a part of the equation. at least minimal `provisions have to be in place to attempt to save these people from themselves, because it can be rather safely predicted that quite a few people are going to get ossified and jump into the water. combine that with the fact that there are some pretty dangerous beaches in the country, the matter warrants serious need for some kind of assistance to people who get into difficulty in the waters of this country. as to the assertion by Tashi, i would like to know how a guy coming into the DR from Saigon is supposed to know the nature ofr the water currents around Cabarete. maybe it is the duty of the tourism directorate to disseminate this information.
as to those who make the ludicrous remark that people die even when there are lifeguards...some people die in car accidents even if they have their seatbelts on. you can?t win them all, but you have to fight them all.
i would like to know how a guy coming into the DR from Saigon is supposed to know the nature ofr the water currents around Cabarete. .
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There is a system, its called common sense... Do you go jumping into strange waters without having a clue whats going on? I consider myself a strong swimmer, I had lessons as a kid, my parents had a pool for most of childhood and I am an avid snorkeler, however, I still don't go racing out into waters unfamiliar. First off you can ask about the conditions, Secondly, make some of your own observations as to the conditions, do you see a current and/or large waves?
There needs to be some self ownership taken for those who seem to leave the brain back at the hotel room. The sad part of it is, the end result is tragic. For some reason, as stated by more than one person in this thread, people get engorged in tourist mode and common sense seems to vacate, as well as the fact perhaps a few too many bebidas take over.
Lifeguards are definitely a great idea to have at all the beaches, but safety starts with yourself, you can't rely on other people to have it for you...
it highlights the need for lifeguards at all public beaches .
It highlights the need for people to use their heads! When the ocean is really rough stay out!
There is a system, its called common sense... Do you go jumping into strange waters without having a clue whats going on? I consider myself a strong swimmer, I had lessons as a kid, my parents had a pool for most of childhood and I am an avid snorkeler, however, I still don't go racing out into waters unfamiliar. First off you can ask about the conditions, Secondly, make some of your own observations as to the conditions, do you see a current and/or large waves?
There needs to be some self ownership taken for those who seem to leave the brain back at the hotel room. The sad part of it is, the end result is tragic. For some reason, as stated by more than one person in this thread, people get engorged in tourist mode and common sense seems to vacate, as well as the fact perhaps a few too many bebidas take over.
Lifeguards are definitely a great idea to have at all the beaches, but safety starts with yourself, you can't rely on other people to have it for you...
you are a seasoned swimmer, and an apparent aficionado of all things nautical. there is a little entity in this world which is known as asymmetry of information. there are people who are versed in the knowledge of certain matters, whilst others are not. some people have next to no knowledge of rip currents, and the hazards they pose. combine that with a few cocktails and you have the formula for disaster. that is why it is incumbent upon the people whose livelihoods depend upon luring people to these shores to take appropriate measures to protect these people from the currents, and from themselves. the whole idea of lifeguards is to rescue people from marine distress, whether they brought it upon themselves, or not.
It highlights the need for people to use their heads! When the ocean is really rough stay out!