As Memorial Day nears, Galveston’s beach patrol is ramping up safety efforts to prepare for the rip currents that quietly endanger unsuspecting swimmers.
Memorial Day is coming up soon, so the Galveston Island Beach Patrol is on high watch to prepare for a dangerous summer on the Gulf shores of Texas. Most of the people who drown here are pulled out to sea by rip currents, which are strong, narrow lines of water. Visitors often don't understand what they are.
"From places like Houston or Dallas, many people think the Gulf is like a swimming pool," said Lt. Austin Kirwin, who works for the beach guard. "But the ocean changes constantly, so it doesn't follow the rules."
Last weekend, the first person of the season to drown died near 39th Street in Oregon. This shows how dangerous it is. Water pushed ashore by waves runs back out to sea, and structures like piers and jetties can strengthen the flow.
Galveston uses green, yellow, and red flags to let beachgoers know what's happening. Presents can be eight feet wide on yellow flag days and twice that size on red flag days. On red days, Kirwin tells people who can't swim not to swim near anything that sticks out into the water.
Kirwin said staying cool is the most important thing to do in a rip current. People who are panicking often wear themselves out trying to fight the stream. He said, "Even our lifeguards can't swim faster than a rip.
Kirwin points out, "People who can swim well should move parallel to the shore to get away, while people who can't swim well should float and let the current take them until it stops.
He told them, "Just sit there and float, keep your head above water, and you will get back to shore."
Beach patrols, the U.S. Coast Guard, and local fire departments are practicing rescue drills to prepare. They hope that raising awareness will help prevent more deaths as the summer crowds arrive.
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