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Comments

• [1] M from NJ July 28, 2008 - 10:36AM

  Are the chances of getting hit by lightning higher at the beach?

  Do life guards have any obligation to clear the beach when there is a storm?

  
  
• [2] O from Forest Hills July 28, 2008 - 10:49AM

  When I used to go to the beach, if it started to rain, or even a hint of thunder, we were asked to leave the beach and it was closed even for rain as a safety precaution.

  
  
• [3] World's Toughest Milkman from the_C_train July 28, 2008 - 11:32AM

  Well "O" you might be violating someones civil rights and be inviting a lawsuit from the aclu.

  Sounds like there is a lack of qualified lifeguards at a lot of these beaches, especially Rockaway where there are a lot of people that do not know how to swim and are generally uneducated about the ocean and it's dangers, a deadly combination which plays out every single summer year after year. In CA lifeguarding is a serious career that is a part of the fire department, in Rockaway, well you can hear the ads on the radio looking for candidates. Which place would you be safer?

  
  
• [4] O from Forest Hills July 28, 2008 - 11:39AM

  How am I violating someone's civil rights?:)

  I think CA might be safer but I am not moving anytime soon.

  I love NY.

  
  
• [5] Robert from NYC July 28, 2008 - 11:51AM

  1 yes water and open areas attract lightning. Don't they teach that anymore?

  
  
• [6] Lance from Manhattan July 28, 2008 - 11:53AM

  Loss of life at the beach is always a tragedy. And I don't mean to imply here that there is any human fault in these recent drownings.

  However, I have noticed on recent visits to the beach that many swimmers ignore the warning flags (red means don't swim) and lifeguards' warnings to move to safer areas.

  Also, the lifeguards should be more proactive. I rarely see them get off their butts up on their chairs to get a message out to the swimmers who may be in less-safe areas.

  
  
• [7] World's Toughest Milkman from the_C_train July 28, 2008 - 11:53AM

  Maybe Pelosi can tell you that one! =)

  Well I knew that but I still had to move there to reaffirm that, it's so bizarre and beautiful and wrong.

  
  
• [8] Mirna Valerio from Pottersville, NJ July 28, 2008 - 11:54AM

  What happened to common sense? Doesn't any watch or listen to the news anymore? There were many reports in which the dangers of being in certain waters were reiterated over and over again. I personally would NOT take my family to the beach when there is riptide danger or high winds. ALSO, many New Yorkers don't know how to swim; that's also a huge problem, so asking people to float or swim parallel to the shore will NOT help if they don't have basic swimming skills.

  
  
• [9] World's Toughest Milkman from the_C_train July 28, 2008 - 11:55AM

  It doesn't have to be bubbles most of the time on the East coast it is identified by sandy or murky colored water. There should be signs at the beach with these basics.

  
  
• [10] EL from QUEENS July 28, 2008 - 11:55AM

  Brian

  these drownings occured AFTER the lifeguards went off duty

  
  
• [11] Robert from NYC July 28, 2008 - 11:57AM

  Oh, and don't stand under a tree. I believe some of the people who got struck over the weekend ran under a tree.

  
  
• [12] eva July 28, 2008 - 09:48PM

  World's Toughest,

  They can't handle milkmen in California's car culture.

  Indeed, the place is, as you put it, bizarre and beautiful and wrong.

  In SF Bay, the temperature ranges from 46 degrees to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. But it's sharkless, unlike the non-bay ocean, and good for swimming.

  The East Coast has warmer beaches, but those tame looking waters are incredibly deceptive. It's really tragic that people aren't better informed about how dangerous it can be.