August 16, 2013 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch Page 75 . . Guarding OC FROM PAGE 74 standing in the hole. That means if I dig a hole for my son to stand in, then it has to be less than knee deep for him, not me. We are busy trying to watch swimmers, so the best thing is to stop people from getting to the point where holes are a danger. If we see a hole that is knee deep, we are going to ask that it not be dug any deeper. If a guard spots a deep hole, they are trained to fill it in right away. You can help RYAN COWDER us prevent sand-hole accidents by leaving the excavation equipment at home. CAPTAIN’S NOTE: Ocean City Beach Patrol members are constantly on the lookout for potential dangers on the beach and in the ocean, and will intervene when a dangerous situation occurs. A serious danger well known to SRTs is the potential for a suffocation emergency following a sand cave-in. In recent years, this serious danger has been widely documented throughout the world and was even featured in the New England Journal of Medicine. Victims typically become completely buried in the sand when the walls of the hole unexpectedly collapse, leaving virtually no evidence of the hole or the location of the victim. Although our last near fatal sand collapse was in a shallow tunnel and the boy’s legs were exposed, it still took a dozen people and several long minutes to dig him out. With this in mind, never attempt to tunnel under the sand or dig into the side of a sand mound. One of the most frustrating experiences SRTs have is when they are explaining a safety concern and the parents have an attitude that they can handle the situation if something were to occur. This couldn’t be more wrong. Even witnessing a sand collapse you many not be able to extricate the person in time. Because of the hole collapse tragedies that have occurred in the past each SRT is trained and practices the technique to locate and extricate a trapped individual additionally, the SRT is on constant surveillance and will get down from a stand to educate and monitor the people digging holes. The basic problem is that the sand is both heavy and unstable and when a collapse occurs, rescue attempts are hindered because as sand is being removed to free the victim the hole will continue to collapse in on itself, making a successful rescue very difficult. That is why the lifeguards remain vigilant and continue to be proactive about digging holes, preventing accidents before they happen. Besides the potential for suffocation, holes create a potential danger for those people responsible to maintain and patrol the beach throughout the night. Remember, if you dig it, fill it. We are glad you are here and we want you to remain safe! – Ryan Cowder Special To The Dispatch (The writer has been with the Beach Patrol for 15 years and is currently a sergeant. He is an assistant principal at Stephen Decatur High School.) Ocean City’s Standup Paddle Boarding Company 9808 Stephen Decatur Highway, Unit 6, Ocean City, MD • 410-289-8787 • www.walkonwatersupco.com WALK ON WATER OFFERS SUP RENTALS IN THE OCEAN CITY & OCEAN PINES AREA. Two-Hour Excursions Include basic lesson, paddleboard, paddle, snacks and refreshments. $75 per person PERSONAL RENTALS: SUP Board, Paddle, Personal flotation device and leash 1 Hr: $25 1/2 Day: $50 Whole day: $75 Weekly: $225 JOIN US FOR A SUP FITNESS CLASS, OFFERING YOGA & CORE PADDLE STOP BY THE SHOP! Offering Huge Selection Of Boards, Accessories + Apparel To Get You Out On The Water. Some Injuries Won’t Wait We Are The ONLY Medical Center Open ‘Til Midnight 7 Days A Week. BACK TO SCHOOL PHYSICALS 75TH ST. MEDICAL 410-524-0075 www.75thstmedical.com $10 OFF OFFICE VISIT (Excludes Insurance And Weight Control) Walk-In Convenience Serving The Community For 24 YEARS Victor Gong, M.D. and Associates