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Heavy Rain Outdoors
Stay Ahead of the Storm
Advancements in technology make tracking weather systems easier than ever before. Local up-to-date forecasts and weather warnings can be found online free of charge at www.weather.gov. Portable weather radios can also be purchased for constant coverage of most areas. By proactively monitoring this information, managers can better predict the staffing necessary to perform safety sweeps of water-front beaches. It’s important to remember that storms in surrounding areas can impact the water conditions near you, even if your area was not directly affected.
Beach Safety Checks
Waterfront lifeguards should be conducting full water safety checks before opening the beach to patrons every day. These audits become even more important after precipitation. Strong winds and high tides, for example, can litter waterfronts with broken bottles, sharp rocks, and tree branches.
Rainfall also causes changes to water depth, clarity, and temperature.
Rainfall Impact on Water Depth
Heavy rain will naturally make a river or lake rise, while a dry spell will cause water levels to recede. In either scenario, the swimming and diving areas need to be checked several times daily.
- Swimming: If an area receives multiple inches of rain, it becomes essential to check the water depth further from shore. Move swimming boundaries in to accommodate less accomplished swimmers.
- Platforms & Piers: Higher tides can move floating piers and platforms from their previous locations. Ensure they are securely anchored and water depths are appropri- ate for their designed use.
- Diving: A safe diving area at high tide may turn into a major liability at low tide.
Rainfall Impact on Water Clarity
Strong winds, varying depths, and glare from the sun make surveillance at water-fronts exponentially more difficult than a typical pool. Rainstorms can often kick up sediment from the bottom of the beach and cloud the water, making observation even more complicat- ed. Test water clarity and adjust lifeguard positioning to accommodate changes in visibility.
Rainfall Impact on Water Temperature
Although water on the surface may feel warm, water only a few feet down can be much colder. This change of temperature is compounded by heavy rainfall, and if not monitored properly, may cause an increase in cases of hypo- thermia. Check water temperatures daily with a special focus early in the season and after rain.
Documentation
Lifeguards or maintenance staff should keep a daily log documenting all safety checks of waterfront beaches. A simple checklist will ensure reporting is consistent and no areas are neglected. Any preventative maintenance to docks, kayaks, PFDs, etc. should be noted and saved. This valuable information can be used for trending, accounting, and staffing purposes.
Author: John Oliver+