Safety officials advise care, caution at beaches, dive spots this summer

Only two days after a typhoon passed Okinawa, this wave at Maeda Point shows the dangers of the ocean. (Photo courtesy of Ed Dunn).
Safety officials advise care, caution at beaches, dive spots this summer
Lance Cpl. Tyler J. Hlavac

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa (July 11, 2008) -- The waters around Okinawa can be dangerous. It is for this reason that Marine Corps Base Camp Butler safety officials offer a variety of tips for staying safe as people head down to the ocean during the temperate days of Summer.

Before packing up and heading to the beach, one should get an updated weather forecast and sea condition status, said Shawn Curtis, the base occupational safety and health supervisor.

Entering the water without knowing the condition of the sea can be deadly.

"Service members and dependents new to Okinawa may not be familiar with the local water hazards here," he said. "Spending time getting to know the waters and learning to swim can greatly reduce risk in the water. Additionally, we suggest the '10 second rule.' If it takes more than 10 seconds to decide if the water is safe enough to go in, then don't do it."

Curtis said that after checking weather and sea conditions, choose a safe location. A good tip is to look for the presence of locals at a beach, this is a good sign the area is safe. Additionally, swimmers should swim in areas where lifeguards are present and should avoid or be cautious of dangerous or high skill level dive spots, such as Bolo and Maeda Point. Also be cautious and heed the warning signs at the beaches of Camps Kinser, Courtney and Schwab.

Visitors should travel in groups, have a reliable form of communication and notify a third party of their whereabouts, he added.

"Sometimes a person will have gone swimming or diving and may not have been heard from in a while," he said. "When emergency officials go to find them and don't have a precise location, it can be next to impossible to scour every beach and dive spot searching for a missing person."

Education and awareness are the keys to staying safe in the water, Curtis said.

"There is an abundance of information currently available on radio and television which helps members of the military community navigate the waters here on Okinawa," he continued. "In addition, the safety office developed a 14-minute water safety video that addresses specific hazards in the surrounding waters.

"The video can be viewed by logging on to the MCB Camp Butler Web site. As long as they stay up to date on all the latest sea conditions and follow these basic safety rules, they will be able to enjoy a safe summer at the beach," Curtis said.

For more information on water safety, rip currents and weather updates, visit the United States Lifesaving Association Web site at http://www.usla.org and Kadena Services at http://weather.kadenaservices.com/ or contact the installation safety office at 645-3806.