In the last couple of weeks the Hamptons has been so incredibly crowded that there has been an uptick in police happenings. According to a police officer that I am friends with they believe that the optics are simply due to the math in terms of the dramatic population increase that has happened this summer, especially now that it is the post-Covid world and everyone is trying to catch up on their fun. Consequently one of the things that is really important for a public safety is beach safety. Tragically in Montauk recently the community was devastated to hear the news that a man had drowned in the water at Ditch Plains.
Water safety is not just the responsibility of the towns and the village lifeguards but it is also a personal responsibility. It is imperative that everyone in the Hamptons understands these important basic water safety rules when it comes to swimming in the ocean.
1: Always swim where an active lifeguard is present. This seems obvious but it is amazing to me how many inexperienced swimmers are willing to jump in the ocean during times when a lifeguard is not present or In an area where lifeguards do not work. It is absolutely amazing how many saves a weekend lifeguards do in the Hamptons. As a former Lifeguard I very rarely am willing to swim in the water where I lifeguard is not present. This is by far the most important rule and if you have kids swimming, it should never be broken.
2: Have the ability to recognize rip currents. Rip currents is water that pulls you off of the shore and out to sea. They are easy to identify by looking for cloudy water in the Midst of Clear water. If you don’t know what it looks like ask someone who does as I have never in my personal experience seen anyone get in any trouble in the ocean that did not involve a rip current.
3: Never panic. This is an important rule to follow if you find yourself caught in a rip current while swimming in the ocean. If you swim more than five times a year in the ocean for more than 10 minutes at a time I can pretty much guarantee you that you will at some point end up in a rip current and start getting pulled out to sea. It is critical that you do not panic in this situation and do not attempt to fight the current. You should always make an effort to be as relaxed as possible in the ocean and to never go beyond a light swim power while swimming so that you’re never in a situation where are you are tired out. If you’re in a rip current the best thing to do is to very casually and very easily begin swimming with the shoreline until the water clears and you were out of the current. From there you should be very conscious of how much energy you have and if you are anywhere below 80% of full power you should head back in.
4: Always swim with an experienced swimmer. You must always swim in the ocean with a buddy and this buddy must be an experienced swimmer. If they are not an experienced swimmer you should not go past standing distance with that swimmer and you should be prepared mentally and at the ready in case they need assistance. If you yourself are inexperienced, than you must make sure that you do not go in the water without being watched by someone who has experienced and can provide advice while swimming and alert you to the danger of a rip current.
5: Never try to show off. The ocean is all about conserving your energy, you should never try to show off to your friends about how far you can swim or how fast you can swim or how big of a wave you can ride that goes beyond your comfort level, all swimming in the ocean should feel to you very comfortable and very safe.
6: Never swim at night. This is obvious but if you swim at night and get into trouble you are on your own for the simple fact that nobody will be able to see you. Never swim in the dark in the ocean.
I hope these rules have helped you and I strongly recommend that you take the time to talk with lifeguards at the beach and ask them any questions that you may have about rip currents and water safety you will be amazed at how knowledgeable they are about the ocean. Enjoy the ocean and be safe out there.
