Rip Currents, Water Rescues, and Perdido Key

Late last week we had a number of incidents out at Johnson's Beach/Perdido Key, where swimmers got caught in rip currents and needed to be rescued.  Ultimately, 4 helicopters landed out there and multiple persons, including two underage children, had to be transported to area hospitals.  As of this morning, I have not been able to ascertain their respective conditions and I am praying they all make full recoveries. I am told many bystanders stepped up to assist and were instrumental in making lifesaving, heroic actions to assist those stuck in the rip currents.  God Bless them and all the first responders that jumped into action that day!

I have subsequently spoken to public safety to get a SITREP and what I learned was that all of these victims were from out of town, here visiting, likely staying at privately owned condominiums at the beach utilizing the private beaches of these condominiums and/or our access points.  I was initially told that Yellow Flags were flying--warning swimmers to use caution as conditions may be dangerous.  But several eye witnesses report that Red Flags were flying--signaling that dangerous conditions are present and swimming is not permitted.

So several take aways will hopefully come from this tragic event:  More awareness is necessary.  And swimmers must know that no lifeguards are present at the privately owned and managed condominiums and private beaches at Perdido Key--so far as I have seen and been told.  Interesting that most of these same condo complexes hire security and off duty deputies to ensure nobody trespasses on their private beaches---------- yet they have no lifeguards to patrol the beaches to keep their guests and residents safe?  Interesting.  I'll be asking the Perdido Key association about this to make sure I am not wrong--but thus far I have been told most--if not all--of the condos do not station lifeguards at their private beaches to protect their guests.  

But I digress.

We have never provided lifeguards at our very small footprint access points on Perdido Key--although we do have signage warning of dangerous rip currents.  With miles and miles of Federal, State, and privately owned beaches out there--we have a total of  a little over 500 feet of publicly accessible, county owned beaches for use.  So our (county) footprint is miniscule out there juxtaposed with the miles and miles of shorline controlled by others.  Nevertheless-- We will be adding signage explaining that no lifeguards are present and swimmers must "Swim at their own risk" at our access points in the weeks ahead.  We will also add additional flagpoles at each access point and will have our fire station's crew add the appropriate flag daily at our access points for visitor awareness.

These are tangible steps we will be taking going forward at our four small access points to improve safety--because ensuring public safety is our County's paramount duty.

The county already has an agreement with Johnson's Beach and the Federal Government whereby they pay for and we provide lifeguards after Memorial Day each year--but those personnel stay on the Federal Beaches and do not patrol other areas of Perdido Key--although they will respond to distress calls out there when necessary.

So this situation provides multiple opportunities for improved safety.  Perhaps it allows for us to work together with the privately owned condos to make the beach safer?  Perhaps?  Could it ever happen that we could fund lifeguards for everyone's safety in exchange for the public's seasonal use of some of the private  beaches where such lifeguards patrol?  Or-- could we station a lifeguard somewhere at one of our existing access points?

I'll be looking at multiple approaches, as well as how to fund such moves, in the weeks ahead.  Stay tuned.

Meanwhile--always remember to use caution when swimming in the Gulf.  Whether here in Perdido Key---or anywhere along the Gulf Coast.  When one chooses to enter the water--this is a decision and

one's safety and well being become  one's personal, individual responsibility.  Because it can be dangerous and deadly swimming in the ocean if you are not a strong swimmer.  We all must know our limitations--and must do our best to inform visitors of these dangers.