Hawaii Drownings

[dennis in se pa]

You don't hear about this because it would be bad for business, but Hawaii experiences an inordinate amount of drownings. 1 per week.

Way Too Many Tourists Are Dying In Hawaii | HuffPost

You hear about shark attacks, which are few, but not drownings. I found this interesting.

[andyt11]

When I'm there, I'm often suprised how many tourists I see in the water who can't swim. I witnessed a near drowning (actually I don't know if she made it or not, last I saw the paramedics were loading her into an ambulance), at Hanauma Bay.

For some reason it always blows my mind that people who can't swim would play in the ocean. Is perhaps a bit closed minded on my part.

[WPOZZZ]

We have shark attacks, too. However, what Jessica Rich said, does ring true. Tourists are oblivious of their surroundings and think this is paradise, what can go wrong? A few weeks ago, I was at the Halona Blow Hole with my gf and her sister when some tourists were down below at the blow hole. There are many signs that say do not enter, or go past the railings, but many ignore them. These tourists were about 10 feet and 3 feet away. A large woman was the closest and was trying to get a picture of the blow hole spouting and clowning around. It spouted and shocked her with the force of the spray, but she stayed there. Then some large waves crashed against the rocks and she wasn't aware what was happening as the entire party had their backs toward the ocean. The lady got swept off her ass and probably scraped up, but was still safe.

This happens all the time. Just like the warnings from lifeguards about rip currents and undertows. Most heed these warnings, but there are the few who think they can handle, or nothing will happen to them.

[stomachmonkey]

They are probably Texans.

Having lived on an island for a couple of decades everything is about being in / on / involved with water.

Beach, boating, fishing, water skiing, hell you could even take a boat bar hopping.

Like two people drowned a year.

Here in TX we have these massive lakes.

They are death traps.

I have no idea what's in the water here but people routinely jump off boats and never come up.

We had one last week.

Any Holiday weekend is pure carnage.

Last 4th of July we had 5 in N TX, 2013 we had 7. That's in one weekend.

[Manda Racing]

We have the infamous. "Kern River.". And the sign that's always being modified to show current 2## of drownings.

[tevake]

Kauai has a disproportionate number of visitor water safety incedents.
But is taking many steps to prevent them from happening, and to deal with when they do happen.
From water safety videos playing at the airports, to lifeslings posted on signs at exposed beaches, to jr lifeguard training courses training young local beachgoers.
Highly capible lifeguards at popular beaches, equipped with jet skis with sleds to expand their range.
To teams of support people for the families of victims.
The problem is widely recognized, and is being addressed.

Both water and mountain rescue are a big part of our fire rescue teams efforts and capabilities.

But the tragic events keep happeneing. Visitors just don't appreciate the difference between the waters in Hawaii and those back home. Often putting themselves in dangerous places, or into conditions that exceed their ability to safely deal with.

Most Surfer's and local beach goers have had many occasions to warn/ inform visitors about risky situations they are putting themselves into. Or to end up assisting / rescuing them from those situations they do get into.

I once pull off a double rescue using a boogie board and fins. Two guys, fathers/ husbands got washed out a channel in the reef out front of my house. They were being carried off shore much faster than they could swim.
By the time I was rousted from the house, got my gear and got to them, they were just able to barely tread water. They did get scrapped up a bit going in over the reef. But they did walk away with their families.

A local emergency room Dr Monty Downs has seen the concequences of this problem from his work perspective and is spearheading the efforts island wide to reduce its happening.

So the situation is not being ignored or hidden from visitors.

Yet the tragedies keep happening.

So if you are heading to Hawaii, especially in the winter. Think safety first around the water.
Pause to watch the conditions at the beach for a while before going in or even near the water.
Ask locals if at unguarded beaches. Don't over estimated your abilities, or underestimate the demands of our very exposed waters/coasts!

Stay safe, have fun, watch your Keiki.

Cheers Richard

[island911]

Huf-Po... There's a tragedy right thar.

Hawaii is a hard place. And with the massive numbers of people in or near water, are we supposed to be shocked by the numbers? I mean, backyard swimming pools have MUCH higher incident of drowning than those backyards without. --Be outraged.

[KNS]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

We have shark attacks, too. However, what Jessica Rich said, does ring true. Tourists are oblivious of their surroundings and think this is paradise, what can go wrong? A few weeks ago, I was at the Halona Blow Hole with my gf and her sister when some tourists were down below at the blow hole. There are many signs that say do not enter, or go past the railings, but many ignore them. These tourists were about 10 feet and 3 feet away. A large woman was the closest and was trying to get a picture of the blow hole spouting and clowning around. It spouted and shocked her with the force of the spray, but she stayed there. Then some large waves crashed against the rocks and she wasn't aware what was happening as the entire party had their backs toward the ocean. The lady got swept off her ass and probably scraped up, but was still safe.

This happens all the time. Just like the warnings from lifeguards about rip currents and undertows. Most heed these warnings, but there are the few who think they can handle, or nothing will happen to them.

Years ago I flew helicopters in Alaska and we would land on glaciers and show tourists around the various glacial features. Particularly dangerous were the moulins, small and large (sometimes very large) holes in the ice with water flowing into them and disappearing hundreds of feet below the ice. There were no ropes or guardrails, you simply walked up to the edge as close as you dared.

I gave my passengers a short, simple warning: "If you fall in there is no rescue - we notify next of kin. I'm not joking". Once I said that everyone would back up a few steps.

[Cajundaddy]

Heavy pacific surf, coral reefs, and inept vacationers add up to a lot of people getting hurt or killed. Two of my kids were beach lifeguards in San Diego and had many similar stories to tell. The ocean is not as rough there in the summer but they made a lot of rescues on holiday weekends.

"Denim wetsuit entering the water at tower 4" was the alert that a non-swimmer in street clothes was about to get into trouble.

[Seahawk]

Moving water doesn't play fair.

I grew up surfing and kayaking. When I was a white water rafter, depending on the river, we would have a passenger get knocked over board at least once a day.

We spent a good deal of time before we set off explaining the best methods to safety get through the rapid once they were out of the raft: separate from the raft if the boatman tells you to - do not hold onto the side of the raft, feet down stream, lean back, etc. Some of the advice was absolutely counter intuitive but the correct thing to do.

On passenger/boat separation, 7 out of 10 would panic immediately, which is completely understandable. 4 of those 7 would listen and do the right things once I yelled at them. The other 3 were the ones that could get hurt.

I would guess panic once things go a little bit south in water the tourists are not accustomed to, then doing the wrong thing, is a big part of the problem.

[masraum]

I haven't been to HI, but I do know that the ocean can have quite a strong current. I would assume at HI it's no different. I was fortunate (I think) to grow up near the Gulf Coast of FL where the current really wasn't a problem. It does seem a bit insane to play in the water at the beach if you can't swim or you aren't a proficient swimmer unless you stay waist deep or less. Even then, I've felt some currents on my feet that kept me from getting much deeper than ankle or knee deep.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by island911

Huf-Po... There's a tragedy right thar.

Hawaii is a hard place. And with the massive numbers of people in or near water, are we supposed to be shocked by the numbers? I mean, backyard swimming pools have MUCH higher incident of drowning than those backyards without. --Be outraged.

You know, at least 98% of shark attacks on people happen in shallow water near the shore!

Texans are prone to drowning - especially the ones from Mexico. One of the posters on this thread is oblivious.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Manda Racing

We have the infamous. "Kern River.". And the sign that's always being modified to show current 2## of drownings.

Damn, they are up to 200 something now? It was 187 for the longest time when we used to go up there rafting. We haven;t been back for over ten years now. Most people are drunk and they go play in that river. Nuts.

[Bob Kontak]

1978 Indy 500. Corvette pace car year. Van mates and I are loaded up with beer, booze, hash and pot. Party starts Friday outside/around the race track. Four people died outside/around the race track. Cops don't bust a soul. Never hits the news.

Surely peeps drop in the big Harley get together also and similar events.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by tevake

Kauai has a disproportionate number of visitor water safety incedents.
Visitors just don't appreciate the difference between the waters in Hawaii and those back home.

Amen to that.
I've always been a pool swimmer. Used to be able to do 50 yards underwater but only 25 now. Played full contact water polo with dad occasionally and did ok I guess, so I've had a little bit of experience in the water.

So a decade ago, I went out on a surf board at dusk on Kawaii east shore.
(Actually only trying since I've never stood up)
I was alone but it was ok because the waves were pretty small. And sharks? meh. At the time I thought it was a nothing incident, but that surf tends to pick you up and push you right to the bottom, and just when you almost make it back up to the surface, you are only a foot away, have already expelled your lungs and ready for a fresh gulp, the surf does it again. All in the timing.
I got beat up that evening and found a new respect for surfers.

[CurtEgerer]

Originally Posted by island911

Huf-Po... There's a tragedy right thar.

Hawaii is a hard place. And with the massive numbers of people in or near water, are we supposed to be shocked by the numbers? I mean, backyard swimming pools have MUCH higher incident of drowning than those backyards without. --Be outraged.

One could probably plot a graph of # of drownings vs. miles of coastline + # of inland lakes for each State and it would be proportional. Michigan this past weekend had 5 drownings. But we've got 3200-miles of Great Lakes coastline + 11,000 inland lakes. Not sure 5 is average for MI, but with this much water there are drownings in the news every weekend.

[matthewb0051]

I lived on Ohau for a couple of years starting in 2010.

When I arrived, a death investigation immediately hit my desk. That would be the first of many during my time there. I even left some for my successor.

I agree with others, people are stupid, especially tourists. They just don't appreciate the fact that the ocean is unforgiving and takes no prisoners.

One time at Pipe watching locals surf during a huge swell we were standing at the wet line on the beach. Some tourists came up and decided to stand in front of everyone, not realizing that we were standing where surge would not hit. Within 5 minutes a huge wave came along with its surge, their 5 year old daughter was upended and only saved from the rip by a very quick hand.

One other day we were also on the North Shore collecting sea glass, not getting in the huge surf that day which was shore breaks about 10 feet or more. The lifeguard came down on his quad and told me to not let my kids in the water. Several minutes later he came back to get the young tourists out of the shore breaks. They thought it was funny but they were literally getting thrown around like rag dolls and were lucky to walk away with their lives.

Keiki beach shore breaks on some lesser days:

[matthewb0051]

This is more like it. Now imagine a tourist on a float in this stuff. And that is a shore break.

[motion]

I was a goner one day 12 years ago at Barking Sands. I had given up on struggling and was ready to slip away. Was lucky to survive. Absolutely will not go in the surf any more!