Be careful on Samui's beaches, be safe!
It's the time of the year again that the red flags on Samui's popular beaches of Chaweng and Lamai have the red flags up. PLEASE DO HEED THEM and take them seriously and don't drown!
A few years in a row I have reported about rip currents occurring on the island's beaches and each year people still drown as a result of these rip currents and tides, despite plenty of warning signs on the beaches in forms of red flags and signs at some of the hotels.
A rip current as seen from a beach
Don't have your holiday spoiled. Be aware of them being around and know what to do if you get caught in one. Swim to the side of the current and most importantly don't fight the current.
A rip current as seen from an elevated position
There's some good information out there, maybe check these websites;
NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Take your pick!
A rip current is a horizontal current. Rip currents do not pull people under the water–-they pull people away from shore. Drowning deaths occur when people pulled offshore are unable to keep themselves afloat and swim to shore. This may be due to any combination of fear, panic, exhaustion, or lack of swimming skills.
In some regions rip currents are referred to by other, incorrect terms such as rip tides and undertow. We encourage exclusive use of the correct term – rip currents. Use of other terms may confuse people and negatively impact public education efforts.
Now go and out and enjoy your holiday and like Tom Hanks said; see you at the beach! Be careful on the beaches though during this time of the year and watch the warning signals, check the flags, red flags mean don't enter the water so do yourself a favor, don't enter the water when the red flags are up!
Camille
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