Tips to stay safe in the water
Although the sun and sand bring thousands to the island annually, visitors and locals take caution when going in the deep.
December 19, 2014Updated: December 19, 2014
By KUAM News
By KUAM News by Krystal Paco
Guam - Water-related fatalities have made headlines almost weekly. And although the sun and sand are what bring thousands of tourists to the island annually, it's important that visitors and locals take caution when going in the deep.
The water is never a place to test your limits. "A lot of times they don't know their abilities on how far they can go," said Michael Benito, a lifeguard with the Department of Parks and Recreation. "They push themselves too far even. There's also not knowing the areas where they're going to swim. Here at Ypao Beach, it can be deceivingly dangerous." Benito has been with the agency for the last eight years and with his binoculars in hand at his post at the Ypao Beach lifeguard tower, he's the watchful eye looking for signs of trouble.
Most recently, he assisted in the rescue of a 9-year-old girl who nearly drowned in Tumon Bay. "Children. A lot of times people tend to think because it's shallow, it's low tide that their children can go off and swim wherever they want far away from them more than 50 yards one of the things we always ask is that if your children can't swim, stay within arm's reach," he said.
But it's not just children lifeguards are on the watch for. Benito says sometimes, the biggest mistakes are made by snorklers. "There's another thing with people with snorkels. They're not really good swimmers but they put the mask and snorkel on they go out further into the deep and they get water into the snorkel and they don't know how to blow it out," he shared.
For 2014, Benito has counted 17 water-related fatalities in addition to dozens of near drowning incidents. If you don't already, learn to swim. Check the Agana Pool and the island's hotels for basic swimming lessons. It could just save your life.
Also, swim where lifeguards are present. Benito suggested, "Swimming near a lifeguard tower is always a plus. On Guam we have two lifeguarded beaches through DPR which is Ypao Beach Park and Matapang Beach Park. Also if you're not in the area where there is no life guard, you should always have knowledge of the area."
In the water or on shore, all beachgoers should be alert at all times as Benito reports - some calls for help are silent. "A drowning person is silent. You're not going to hear them when they're in trouble already," he said.
If you're not an experienced swimmer or not familiar with the area or the water conditions, you should never go to waters past your stomach or chest.
Guam - Water-related fatalities have made headlines almost weekly. And although the sun and sand are what bring thousands of tourists to the island annually, it's important that visitors and locals take caution when going in the deep.
The water is never a place to test your limits. "A lot of times they don't know their abilities on how far they can go," said Michael Benito, a lifeguard with the Department of Parks and Recreation. "They push themselves too far even. There's also not knowing the areas where they're going to swim. Here at Ypao Beach, it can be deceivingly dangerous." Benito has been with the agency for the last eight years and with his binoculars in hand at his post at the Ypao Beach lifeguard tower, he's the watchful eye looking for signs of trouble.
Most recently, he assisted in the rescue of a 9-year-old girl who nearly drowned in Tumon Bay. "Children. A lot of times people tend to think because it's shallow, it's low tide that their children can go off and swim wherever they want far away from them more than 50 yards one of the things we always ask is that if your children can't swim, stay within arm's reach," he said.
But it's not just children lifeguards are on the watch for. Benito says sometimes, the biggest mistakes are made by snorklers. "There's another thing with people with snorkels. They're not really good swimmers but they put the mask and snorkel on they go out further into the deep and they get water into the snorkel and they don't know how to blow it out," he shared.
For 2014, Benito has counted 17 water-related fatalities in addition to dozens of near drowning incidents. If you don't already, learn to swim. Check the Agana Pool and the island's hotels for basic swimming lessons. It could just save your life.
Also, swim where lifeguards are present. Benito suggested, "Swimming near a lifeguard tower is always a plus. On Guam we have two lifeguarded beaches through DPR which is Ypao Beach Park and Matapang Beach Park. Also if you're not in the area where there is no life guard, you should always have knowledge of the area."
In the water or on shore, all beachgoers should be alert at all times as Benito reports - some calls for help are silent. "A drowning person is silent. You're not going to hear them when they're in trouble already," he said.
If you're not an experienced swimmer or not familiar with the area or the water conditions, you should never go to waters past your stomach or chest.