May 2017 (ROTM#101) Jaco Beach, Costa Rica

Back in early April this year I was fortunate to be invited by the Universidad de Costa Rica to take part in a series of meetings and a workshop for government and red cross officials to speak about the rip current hazard in Australia and how we manage it. Costa Rica has a very serious rip current drowning problem, of both Costa Ricans and tourists, and they can get between 60-80 drownings a year.

The problem is that there is no formalised lifeguarding service on the beaches. Some beaches have lifeguards, but most do not. A bill is going to be voted on regarding whether a national beach lifeguarding service should be established and I very much hope this is successful.

This picture was taken in front of the Best Western Hotel at Jaco Beach. Jaco is probably the major beach resort destination and is a high wave energy beach with many rip currents and unfortunately many drownings. Professor Chris Houser, the Dean of Science from the University of Windsor in Canada was also there as he is also a rip current scientist and has been instrumental in generating interest in the rip current hazard in Costa Rica.

One particular aspect that Chris is interested in is the psychology of rip current drownings and this picture is an example of that. When you leave the resort to go for a swim, what are your eyes immediately drawn towards? Is it the palm tree lined pathway to the ocean or the blue signs on the left? For most, it's the path to the sea. The blue sign warns of beach hazards such as rip currents, but I'm not sure how many people would pay attention to it.

Rip drownings are a lot more than the rips themselves, it's how we can most effectively make beachgoers aware of the hazard. It's great that they have this sign in place, but I'm not sure how effective it is.

Signs? What signs?