go read up on the concept of asymmetric information. not everyone is as versed as you are in these matters.
- Thread starter Chirimoya
- Start date
Four tourists drown at Playa Macao
go read up on the concept of asymmetric information. not everyone is as versed as you are in these matters.
Rip currents are the most common cause of drowning and do not look rough at all. Anyone who swims in the ocean needs to learn about them and how to spot them.
no one can know everything about everything. lots of vacationers get in the water, even completely sober, and just walk or rest in shallow areas. the problem is that after storms/rains the water and weaves can be rough. it only takes one wave to pull the person off the shallow ground. many poor swimmers panic when they cannot feel the ground. currents make it impossible for the person to go back where they were and they panic even more. disaster in the making.
i think the solution here is more complicated. first, there should be signs warning of currents and sudden changes in depth. second, there should be buoys and nets/ropes limiting and indicating areas safe to swim for those with poor skills. third, lifeguards on duty, both on land and in the water, on a boat.
i think the solution here is more complicated. first, there should be signs warning of currents and sudden changes in depth. second, there should be buoys and nets/ropes limiting and indicating areas safe to swim for those with poor skills. third, lifeguards on duty, both on land and in the water, on a boat.
I sometimes swim there, and have definitely noticed that the undertow can be strong so I never swim out beyond the line of surfers waiting to catch waves - that saved me while swimming off Zicatela, a notoriously dangerous surfers' beach in Mexico many years ago.
It's not yet clear whether the victims were there independently, or with one of the surfing schools (I know it was not with Macao Surf Camp, although it was their instructors who were involved in the rescue attempt) or with one of the buggy excursions during which some people do drink a lot.
My son surfs at Macao, and we were there yesterday with some friends who were also swimming and surfing, but we left before this happened.
It's not yet clear whether the victims were there independently, or with one of the surfing schools (I know it was not with Macao Surf Camp, although it was their instructors who were involved in the rescue attempt) or with one of the buggy excursions during which some people do drink a lot.
My son surfs at Macao, and we were there yesterday with some friends who were also swimming and surfing, but we left before this happened.
Risking your life to save another person goes to the very essence of humanity. Even though the result was tragic they are heroes. There is little time to plan or asess the risk. Its a spontaneous act to save a life. Very sad outcome but it does not diminish their heroism
exactly. i am astonished by the commentary of people here who claim it to be bad judgement. if i saw one of my kids in peril of dying, i would throw judgement out the window. most people would.
My thoughts exactly. Hotels should provide details about certain dangers, post flags on the beach and explain what the flags mean. This is done in many beach towns.
Although everybody has a head, the brains are different.
One can't really expect (for example) a Bavarian tourist (maybe a good skier from near the alpes :bunny: ) know everything about rip tides (which, BTW, do not look dangerous at all).
On the other hand not every holiday maker can be given a tutorial about the dangers of the sea.
In other countries I have seen green or red flags being used at the beaches.
Whether those are used in Punta Cana, I do not know; but it would certainly not be too much to ask for.
donP
The sad part of this entire exercise is that there is donated rescue equipment training materials and ambulances sitting in Santo Domingo that have been brought from Canada. But until the right officail gets his payment, the donation stays in storage and people die.
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished.
Several years ago the German government sent a new and fully equipped ambulance to SD, so that the German ambassador could donate it.
Customs presented an enormous bill to the embassy.
Ambulance was shipped back to Germany... :bunny:
donP
Several years ago the German government sent a new and fully equipped ambulance to SD, so that the German ambassador could donate it.
Customs presented an enormous bill to the embassy.
Ambulance was shipped back to Germany... :bunny:
donP
This explains a lot.
"The victims were swimming in an area that is off-limits to bathers." Even lifeguards cannot protect against this.
From - Dominican Republic News & Travel Information Service
"The victims were swimming in an area that is off-limits to bathers." Even lifeguards cannot protect against this.
From - Dominican Republic News & Travel Information Service
Already done at hotels. They were not at a hotel. They left their hotel - Ocean Blue in Bavaro - which is very safe. And went to Macao. Dominican Republic News & Travel Information Service
yeah, sorry, i should have said "complex", as in "requiring solution on multiple levels".
i don't believe it. risking your life for others is either a result of training (see firemen and police) or an impulse decision. our most basic instinct is always to protect ourselves. this is why when there is a fire or drowning you do not see hordes of people reaching for their "human essence" and running to help. the majority will look and do not act.
Post flags, hire lifeguards, who are you all kidding? No one would listen to either.
Our other home is at the Jersey Shore, near the boardwalk. The beaches are manned with lifeguards daily during the summer season, until 6 pm. Those who swim there do listen to the lifeguards - people do not swim at the sections where there are not guards - they're not allowed, and someone will come to escort them out with a toot of a whistle. The lifeguards undergo strenuous ocean training, and they include teenagers up to 'young' seniors who have lifeguarded their entire adult lives [many are teachers, some are firefighters, etc.]. They go out into the ocean several times a day, and if there are rip currents or undertow no one is allowed in those areas, or they are kept near shore. With all of that, every year there are drownings - almost always people who insist on going swimming after the lifeguards leave. Signs ignored. Signs would be even more useless here.
NOW - can you even imagine for a moment a Dominican lifeguard blowing a whistle and waving people out of the water, and someone actually obeying??? Forget the Dominicans. And the tourists wouldn't understand a word he was saying. Add to that the fact that unless someone has grown up near an ocean they might not even know such a thing as a rip current or undertow exists. They belong at the hotel pool.
That being said, plenty of Dominicans are very strong swimmers, I personally know more than a few of them, several who were lifeguards in their youth.
Our other home is at the Jersey Shore, near the boardwalk. The beaches are manned with lifeguards daily during the summer season, until 6 pm. Those who swim there do listen to the lifeguards - people do not swim at the sections where there are not guards - they're not allowed, and someone will come to escort them out with a toot of a whistle. The lifeguards undergo strenuous ocean training, and they include teenagers up to 'young' seniors who have lifeguarded their entire adult lives [many are teachers, some are firefighters, etc.]. They go out into the ocean several times a day, and if there are rip currents or undertow no one is allowed in those areas, or they are kept near shore. With all of that, every year there are drownings - almost always people who insist on going swimming after the lifeguards leave. Signs ignored. Signs would be even more useless here.
NOW - can you even imagine for a moment a Dominican lifeguard blowing a whistle and waving people out of the water, and someone actually obeying??? Forget the Dominicans. And the tourists wouldn't understand a word he was saying. Add to that the fact that unless someone has grown up near an ocean they might not even know such a thing as a rip current or undertow exists. They belong at the hotel pool.
That being said, plenty of Dominicans are very strong swimmers, I personally know more than a few of them, several who were lifeguards in their youth.
