Swim clear of danger

By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Nothing beats a good swim, but it can be deadly if you don't know what to do in tense situations. Jon Orque • The Honolulu Advertiser Tips for staying safe in the water The Honolulu Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division suggests: Swim in lifeguarded areas. Never swim alone. Don't dive into unknown water or waves breaking in shallows. Ask a lifeguard about beach and surf conditions before swimming. If you are unable to swim out of a strong current, signal for help. Rely on your swimming ability rather than a flotation device. Look for, read, and obey all beach safety signs and symbols. If in doubt, just stay out. In the Pool The YMCA offers a few extra considerations for pool owners and swimmers. Backyard pools should have posted rules, rescue rings and security fences with self-closing gates and childproof locks. For above-ground pools, secure and lock the steps or remove them completely when not in use. Never dive into an above- ground pool. Be aware of depth, bottom incline and underwater obstructions before diving.

The only problem is that all of your splish-splashy frolicking has taken you farther offshore than you're used to, and, as you start to swim back to shore, you notice that your arms and legs feel a lot heavier than they did a few hours ago. Bags of wet cement, is what you think.

Still, this wouldn't be so much of a concern if you didn't also notice that you seem to be going more sideways than forward — that all of this laborious stroking and kicking isn't getting you any closer to your warm blanket on the beach.

You crane your head to get your bearings but the setting sun has turned the surface of the ocean into a wide swath of aluminum foil. A wave hits you at an odd angle and a rush of salt water spills down the wrong pipe. You choke. Another wave hits you. And another. You panic.

Freeze, right there.

Seeing this composite case study in print, you might think our imperiled swimmer's problems are obvious: dehydration, fatigue, no swimming partner, and a general lack of awareness about sea conditions and how to adapt to them. That's true. What is also true is that this sort of thing could happen to any of us — and probably has to some degree.

Every day, Honolulu's lifeguards attend to recreational swimmers who find out the hard way that minor oversights can have major consequences in the ocean. Last year, there were 1,388 rescues and 89,531 instances in which minor first aid was rendered. Thirteen people drowned: 10 at Hanauma Bay, two at Ala Moana and one at Makapu'u.

Still, statistics compiled by the city and county indicate that Honolulu's beaches are relatively safe places to spend a day — particularly given the volume of traffic they receive. In 2002, nearly 18 million people visited the 19 O'ahu beaches watched by Honolulu lifeguards (head counts are taken three times per eight-hour shift by lifeguards).

The relatively high number of drownings at Hanauma seem to support the notion that swimming in an unfamiliar area — particularly one with strong currents — can increase the risk of something going wrong.

"To a lot of local people, the ocean is like our playground," says Kerri Costa of Waikiki. "When you grow up around the ocean, you kind of know what to look out for and how to stay out of trouble. If you don't swim a lot, you don't know how your body reacts. And if you don't know where you're swimming, you don't know what the dangers are."

Costa, 52, admits to regularly breaking one of the most important rules of swimming: Never swim alone. She swims several times a week at Ala Moana Beach Park, usually alone after work.

"I'm terrible, I know," she says. "Part of it is that when you're a pretty strong swimmer, you know how to handle stuff and not panic out. If I get a cramp, I don't panic because I know how to stay afloat, and I know that I can get back to shore eventually. But if I had a heart attack, I'd be in trouble."

Debby Victor, program director for the Central YMCA, says a surprising number of adults in Hawai'i have never learned to swim properly, even though they may spend a lot of time in the water.

"They can tread water, but they can't swim," she says. "A lot of problems occur when people just overestimate their abilities — even good swimmers."

Victor says basic swimming skills are important for anyone entering the water, including paddlers, surfers or bodyboarders. The YMCA, the American Red Cross and the city and county all have swimming or water safety courses open to adults.

Jeff Swafford, a longtime waterman and head of the Team Ulua training group, says it's important to recognize and respect the differences between swimming in a pool and swimming in the ocean.

"There are so many things to look out for," he says. "Currents change. You have to look out for boats. The best thing you can do is really get to know the areas where you're swimming."

Victor, Swafford and other water safety experts The Advertiser consulted offer these tips to help ensure that your next day at the beach is a safe one:

Before you get in the water: Victor says people should prepare for a swim the same way they would for any other athletic event. That means making sure you're sharp mentally and physically.

A good night's rest, a balanced meal and plenty of uncaffeinated fluid is the best way to start. Getting and staying hydrated, in particular, is essential. Even mild dehydration can lead to cramps, reduced physical performance and confusion.

"A lot of times, people don't realize they're getting dehydrated because the water is cool and they don't think or don't realize that they're sweating," Victor says.

You should also be mindful of any medical conditions that might affect your ability to swim and consult your doctor as necessary. The effects of certain medications may be changed by prolonged exposure to the sun.

Once at the beach, you should carefully read any posted signs and ask a lifeguard about the day's conditions. Experienced swimmers may be able to read the ocean currents themselves.

Once you're in the water: It's easy for swimmers to lose their bearings. Without lane lines to keep you honest, imperfections in your stroke or imbalances in your biomechanics can cause you to veer off course and get into trouble. As you stroke, be sure to periodically reorient yourself with landmarks (trees, buildings, etc), and always be aware of where the lifeguards are in case you need to signal for help.

Swimmers should remain cognizant of how far they are from shore and how much energy they will need to swim to safety, taking into account current and other dynamic conditions.

We've already touched on the never-swim-alone rule, but Swafford says its important to follow the spirit, not just the letter, of the guideline. When he takes his training groups out for long-distance swims, he cautions his charges to stay close together and look out for one another, not just swimming solo in a group.

When trouble arises: Swafford's rule No. 1 for handling difficult situations is simple: Don't get into them. Know what you're doing and, when in doubt, play it safe.

That said, situations can and will occur that will force swimmers to test their resources. A sudden cramp. A strong current. A bout of dizziness.

The first response for any emergency situation should be the same: Don't panic. When swimmers lose their ability to calmly assess their situations and strategize solutions, real trouble usually follows.

Treading water, survival floating or other survival techniques can help you buy some time to massage a cramp, catch your breath (once you regain a feel for the cadence of the waves) or read the current.

"The most important thing is to remain passive and relaxed," Swafford says. "There's a way out. If you know how to read the water, you might be able to swim at an angle and get out of the current. If not, you can just stay passive and let it carry you. From there you can swim in or signal for help."

Reach Michael Tsai at 535-2461 or mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.