Lifeguards Issue Warnings For Children Digging In Sand
By Michelle Durham
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - When they tire of splashing in the waves, many children enjoy digging in the sand, but local shore town officials are always mindful of just how deep those craters on the beach get, because they know the dangers they pose.
It's always been something the beach patrol has looked out for, but the recent death of a Brooklyn boy following a sand collapse on a North Jersey beach has brought the issue to the forefront again.
"Many times, we'll have parents right there and little children digging deep and we have to tell them you can't be in there, because you hit the water line and it can definitely be dangerous," says Avalon Beach Patrol Captain Murray Wolf.
Wolf says the size of sand shovels has increased, but he has eyes on the beach to report problems.
"Well, we have taggers (those making sure you have beach tags) at each end. Our vehicles at each end of the beach are the ones who take care of these holes."
But, if a tagger sees a dangerous situation of any kind, they go to the lifeguard stand and the lifeguard radios the beach patrol. Wolf says these holes not only pose a collapse hazard, but also are dangerous to those riding beach patrol vehicles, or pedestrians, who could fall in and break a bone.
