Making it safe to play by the sea

TUMON, Guam—The Guam Visitors Bureau and members of its water safety committee unveiled yesterday a series of newly installed beach safety signposts along Tumon Bay aimed at improving the public beach advisory system.

Complementing the safety signs is a new flag warning system developed for Tumon Bay. The warning flags are colored signals to inform the public about sea conditions and safeguard them from hazardous waters.

The universally recognized flag colors and their definitions are in five languages: English, Chamorro, Japanese, Korean and Chinese to cater to both island residents and tourists who frequent Tumon Bay.

The new beach safety signposts, including warning flags, are located at Ypao Beach, Matapang Beach and beaches at the Hilton Guam Resort and Spa, Pacific Islands Club, Guam Marriott Resort, the Hyatt, Guam Reef Hotel, the Westin, Hotel Okura and Hotel Nikko.

GVB funded $36,000 for the cost of fabrication and installation of the beach safety signposts and flag signals. Lifeguards at the Ypao Lifeguard station and officers from the Guam Police Department’s Tumon Precinct are responsible for changing and hoisting the flag signals daily. A communication system between the National Weather Service and the Tumon Police precinct, using battery-operated NOAA Weather Alert Radios, updates the police and lifeguards on daily weather conditions, severe marine warnings and lightning storms.

Yesterday’s installation of the safety signs and warning flags at Tumon Bay is the initial phase of a multi-tiered program. In phase two, the Department of Parks and Recreation is committed to fabricate and install additional signposts before the end of May at Apotguan Beach (Alupang Beach Tower Hotel), Veterans Sunset Park (across Island Tinting), Padre Palomo Park, Statue of Liberty Park at the Paseo, West Agana Beach Park (between the Hagåtña Marina and Diamond Auto), Adelup Beach Park, Tepungan (Fisheye) Beach Park and Nimitz Beach in Agat. They will furnish these new signposts with signages provided by GVB.

“We know that in the light of the unusually high number of drownings in 2004 that initiatives had to be taken to prevent more tragedies happening in our waters. We started the effort initially with Department of Parks and Recreation last October about installing new signs in key public beaches but the issue became more complex when we realized we needed to ensure when people go into the water, that we provide them the proper safety resources,” said Lamorena.

Spearheaded by GVB’s Tourist Industry Relations Committee, the beach and water safety committee, formed last November, comprised representatives from the Department of Parks and Recreation lifeguards, the National Weather Service, Guam Fire Department, Guam Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, hotel representatives, Guahan Napu , the local surfing association, Guam Kayak and Canoe Federation and other water sports organizations.

According to Bruce Kloppenburg, GVB Board vice-chairman and chairman of the Tourist Industry Relations Committee, the beach and water safety program is not a short-term campaign but one that is evolving and has long-term strategy and applications.

In addition to the initial phase of setting up the beach signs and warning flags, Kloppenburg said plans are already underway to acquire more equipment such as an all-terrain vehicle, a jet ski, NOAA Weather Alert Radios, a defibrillator and CPR equipment to aid the lifeguards as first responders; surf observation training for lifeguards; rescue/CPR training for the surfing community; and educational outreach to tourists and local residents.

“This has been a real community effort. The representatives from each organization that sits on the committee has contributed generously in terms of ideas and time to shape the program,” said Kloppenburg.

In subsequent stages of the beach and water safety program, the working committee aims to have a new lifeguard tower constructed and installed at Matapang Beach Park, apply for grants from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to fund educational projects and materials about water safety, pursue legislation from local lawmakers to increase lifeguard authority and presence and regulation concerning water rescue cost if members of the public are saved in hazardous sea conditions.