Government Information that Can Help one Avoid Some Dangers of Open Water Swimming

Government Information Government Information that Can Help one Avoid that Can Help one Avoid

Some Dangers of Some Dangers of Open Water SwimmingOpen Water Swimming

SaraJean PetiteSaraJean PetiteGovernment Resources Manager and Government Resources Manager and

Bibliographic Access LibrarianBibliographic Access LibrarianCase Western Reserve University School of LawCase Western Reserve University School of Law

Presented at AALL Meeting, July 27, 2007Presented at AALL Meeting, July 27, 2007

Introductory MaterialIntroductory Material

• I got involved with open-water I got involved with open-water swimming about two years ago, swimming about two years ago, when I began training for triathlon.when I began training for triathlon.

• As I was working, I realized that there As I was working, I realized that there was a great deal of government was a great deal of government information relevant to this activity.information relevant to this activity.

• This presentation is intended to This presentation is intended to highlight some of that information.highlight some of that information.

Open Water SwimmingOpen Water Swimming

• While the information sources in this While the information sources in this presentation may be interesting, one presentation may be interesting, one should always heed warnings posted should always heed warnings posted at a beach or given by a lifeguard.at a beach or given by a lifeguard.

Sources of Information Sources of Information

• National Oceanic and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is Atmospheric Administration is major sourcemajor source

• Other helpful information is Other helpful information is available from the EPA, NIH, and available from the EPA, NIH, and the Coast Guard.the Coast Guard.

Weather (General)Weather (General)

• National Weather ServiceNational Weather Service– NOAA Weather radio will give you the NOAA Weather radio will give you the

most up-to-date weather information.most up-to-date weather information.– General site at General site at

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/– Marine weather at Marine weather at

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/home.hthttp://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/home.htm m

WeatherWeather: Can you spot the : Can you spot the Danger?Danger?

Photograph taken by Suzi Harmon, Photograph taken by Suzi Harmon, January 1, 2007.January 1, 2007. Accessed via Cleveland Triathlon Club’s Photo Blog.Accessed via Cleveland Triathlon Club’s Photo Blog.

Weather (Water Weather (Water Temperature)Temperature)

• As the water temperature drops below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, As the water temperature drops below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, one’s chances of hypothermia increase. (Graphic from one’s chances of hypothermia increase. (Graphic from Think Safe: Think Safe: Choose the Right Personal Flotation DeviceChoose the Right Personal Flotation Device brochure published by brochure published by the United States Coast Guard.)the United States Coast Guard.)

Weather (Water Temperature)Weather (Water Temperature)

• NOAA’s National Oceanographic Data NOAA’s National Oceanographic Data Center Coastal Water Temperature Center Coastal Water Temperature GuideGuide– Current temperatures, but there are Current temperatures, but there are

gapsgaps– http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/

http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/




• NOAA’s National Environmental NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Satellite, Data, and Information Service’s Sea Surface Temperature Service’s Sea Surface Temperature Contour ChartsContour Charts– Gives recent temperatures in degrees Gives recent temperatures in degrees

centigrade.centigrade.– http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SST/contourthumb.http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SST/contourthumb.

htmlhtml

http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SST/contourthumb.html

http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SST/contourthumb.html




• NOAA’s Great Lakes Coastal Forecasting NOAA’s Great Lakes Coastal Forecasting SystemSystem– Forecast and recent historical temperaturesForecast and recent historical temperatures– Gives times in GMTGives times in GMT

• Eastern Daylight Time is -4 hours.Eastern Daylight Time is -4 hours.

• Central Daylight Time is -5 hours.Central Daylight Time is -5 hours.

– Also contains information about air Also contains information about air temperature, winds, waves, and water currentstemperature, winds, waves, and water currents

– http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/glcfs/http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/glcfs/

http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/glcfs/




Weather: Can you spot the Weather: Can you spot the danger?danger?

Photo Courtesy of Delaware Sea Grant, accessed via NOAA’s website.Photo Courtesy of Delaware Sea Grant, accessed via NOAA’s website.

Weather (Rip Currents)Weather (Rip Currents)

• ““Rip Currents are powerful, Rip Currents are powerful, channeled currents of water flowing channeled currents of water flowing away from shore.”away from shore.”11

• Of weather-related causes, only heat Of weather-related causes, only heat kills more people than rip currents.kills more people than rip currents.22

References:1. http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/2. http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/resources/GCRL-128335-Article.pdf

http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/

http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/resources/GCRL-128335-Article.pdf


• For some areas, the National Weather For some areas, the National Weather Service has Rip Current ForecastsService has Rip Current Forecasts– http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/forecasts.shtmlhttp://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/forecasts.shtml

http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/forecasts.shtml




• Every year, NOAA has Rip Current Awareness WeekEvery year, NOAA has Rip Current Awareness Week– http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/week.shtml http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/week.shtml


http://http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/signs/rip_current_sign.pdfwww.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/signs/rip_current_sign.pdf

http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/signs/rip_current_sign.pdf

http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/signs/rip_current_sign.pdf

Weather (Waves)Weather (Waves)

• NOAA WavewatchNOAA Wavewatch– http://polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.htmhttp://polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.htm

ll– Instructions: Instructions:

http://polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/pres/primer/phttp://polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/pres/primer/primer_1.htmlrimer_1.html

http://polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html

http://polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html

http://polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/pres/primer/primer_1.html

http://polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/pres/primer/primer_1.html




• NOAA Wavewatch Great Lakes ModelNOAA Wavewatch Great Lakes Model– Gives wave height in metersGives wave height in meters– http://http://polar.ncep.noaa.gov/NEW.wavespolar.ncep.noaa.gov/NEW.waves//

http://polar.ncep.noaa.gov/NEW.waves/




Can You Spot the Danger?Can You Spot the Danger?Hint: It’s not weather or boats.Hint: It’s not weather or boats.

Photo of Huntington Beach (Bay Village, OH) taken by SaraJean Petite.Photo of Huntington Beach (Bay Village, OH) taken by SaraJean Petite.Photograph of swim leg of 2001 Cleveland Triathon taken by Richard Petite.Photograph of swim leg of 2001 Cleveland Triathon taken by Richard Petite.

Water Quality (National)Water Quality (National)

• The Center for Disease Control has a beach pageThe Center for Disease Control has a beach page– http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/beaches_rivers.htmhttp://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/beaches_rivers.htm


• One of the sources to which the CDC One of the sources to which the CDC refers people is Earth 911.refers people is Earth 911.

• Though it is not a government source, Though it is not a government source, Earth 911 has partnered with local Earth 911 has partnered with local governments to provide information governments to provide information about beach water qualityabout beach water quality

– http://www.earth911.org/WaterQuality/http://www.earth911.org/WaterQuality/index.aspindex.asp

Water Quality (national)Water Quality (national)




• The CDC also refers people to the The CDC also refers people to the EPA’s beach page.EPA’s beach page.– http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/

beaches/ beaches/



• The EPA’s BEACON system will let you find your beach.The EPA’s BEACON system will let you find your beach.– http://oaspub.epa.gov/beacon/beacon_national_page.main http://oaspub.epa.gov/beacon/beacon_national_page.main

Water Quality (National)Water Quality (National)• BEACON is good for directing you to state sources.BEACON is good for directing you to state sources.





Water Quality (state)Water Quality (state)

• Ohio Department of Health Beach Bacteria Ohio Department of Health Beach Bacteria http://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhPrograms/eh/bbeach/beach_http://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhPrograms/eh/bbeach/beach_samplemonitoring.aspxsamplemonitoring.aspx

Water Quality (state)Water Quality (state)

Water Quality (State)Water Quality (State)

Water Quality (State)Water Quality (State)

Water Quality (Local)Water Quality (Local)

• Ohio Nowcast (Cuyahoga County) Ohio Nowcast (Cuyahoga County) http://www.ohionowcast.info/index.ahttp://www.ohionowcast.info/index.aspsp



Wildlife: Avoiding the Wildlife: Avoiding the DangersDangers

Photos from NOAA Ocean Explorer’s “Living Ocean” gallery at Photos from NOAA Ocean Explorer’s “Living Ocean” gallery at http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/gallery/livingocean/livingocean.htmlhttp://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/gallery/livingocean/livingocean.html

http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/gallery/livingocean/livingocean.html

Wildlife (Sharks)Wildlife (Sharks)• NOAA has information on avoiding shark NOAA has information on avoiding shark

attacks attacks • Fact sheet written by the International Fact sheet written by the International

Shark Attack Website and distributed by Shark Attack Website and distributed by NOAA: NOAA: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sharks/Press_Kit_Sharks.htmhttp://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sharks/Press_Kit_Sharks.htm

Wildlife (Sharks)Wildlife (Sharks)

• Some of the helpful hints from this Some of the helpful hints from this publication:publication:– Don’t swim at times and places where Don’t swim at times and places where

sharks feed.sharks feed.– Don’t swim if you’re bleeding.Don’t swim if you’re bleeding.– If you see a shark, get out of the water If you see a shark, get out of the water

and don’t harass it.and don’t harass it.

Wildlife (Jellyfish)Wildlife (Jellyfish)

• Prevention of Marine Life Bite (quoting Prevention of Marine Life Bite (quoting from Medline Plus)from Medline Plus)– Swim near a lifeguard. Swim near a lifeguard. – Observe posted signs that may warn of Observe posted signs that may warn of

danger from jellyfish or other hazardous danger from jellyfish or other hazardous marine life. marine life.

– Do not touch unfamiliar marine life. Even Do not touch unfamiliar marine life. Even dead animals or severed tentacles may dead animals or severed tentacles may contain poisonous venom. contain poisonous venom.

• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000032.htmhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000032.htm

Wildlife (Jellyfish)Wildlife (Jellyfish)

• Treatment of Jellyfish Bite (quoting from Medline Plus):Treatment of Jellyfish Bite (quoting from Medline Plus):– Portuguese Man-of-War:Portuguese Man-of-War:

• Wash with salt water. Protect affected area if possible. Soak the Wash with salt water. Protect affected area if possible. Soak the area with a solution of vinegar and water (1/2 vinegar and 1/2 area with a solution of vinegar and water (1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water) for about 30 minutes to remove any remaining tentacles. water) for about 30 minutes to remove any remaining tentacles. Rinse the area and then resoak with more 1/2 strength vinegar.Rinse the area and then resoak with more 1/2 strength vinegar.

• (To remove remaining tentacles, may use flour or shaving cream (To remove remaining tentacles, may use flour or shaving cream and scrape with a dull instrument such as a credit card.) Apply a and scrape with a dull instrument such as a credit card.) Apply a cream containing a pain killer, an antihistamine, and a cream containing a pain killer, an antihistamine, and a corticosteroid.corticosteroid.

– Sea-Wasp (usually found in Australian waters):Sea-Wasp (usually found in Australian waters):• CALL FOR AN AMBULANCE. Death can occur within minutes.CALL FOR AN AMBULANCE. Death can occur within minutes.

• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002845.htm http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002845.htm

Wildlife (Sea-Wasp)Wildlife (Sea-Wasp)

• According to the City of Honolulu’s According to the City of Honolulu’s website, Sea-Wasps, also known as website, Sea-Wasps, also known as Box Jellyfish, are also found in Box Jellyfish, are also found in Hawaii.Hawaii.– http://www.honolulu.gov/esd/http://www.honolulu.gov/esd/

oceansafety/boxjellymainpage.htm oceansafety/boxjellymainpage.htm

WatercraftWatercraft

• This is the Coast Guard’s Sign for a Designated Swimming AreaThis is the Coast Guard’s Sign for a Designated Swimming Area– http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/aton/non_lateral.htm (graphic of sign)http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/aton/non_lateral.htm (graphic of sign)– http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/fedreqs/law_negligent.htm (rules for boaters)http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/fedreqs/law_negligent.htm (rules for boaters)

• Local beaches may have different signs prohibiting boats from Local beaches may have different signs prohibiting boats from entering swim areas.entering swim areas.

If you Decide to try this at If you Decide to try this at home…home…

• This presentation is not designed to give This presentation is not designed to give you all the information you need to swim you all the information you need to swim safely in open water.safely in open water.

• Your best sources of information are Your best sources of information are people who are familiar with the water in people who are familiar with the water in which you plan to swim. They may know which you plan to swim. They may know which government or commercial which government or commercial resources give the best information for resources give the best information for water in their areas.water in their areas.

If you Decide to try this at If you Decide to try this at home…home…

For information about open-water For information about open-water swimming in a specific location, swimming in a specific location, contact:contact:

– A Lifeguard at the beachA Lifeguard at the beach– Your local triathlon club Your local triathlon club http://http://

www.usatriathlon.org/Clubs/FindAClub.aspxwww.usatriathlon.org/Clubs/FindAClub.aspx

– United States Masters Swimming United States Masters Swimming http://http://www.usms.orgwww.usms.org//

– Stores that specialize in surfing and Stores that specialize in surfing and scuba diving suppliesscuba diving supplies

http://www.usatriathlon.org/Clubs/FindAClub.aspx

http://www.usatriathlon.org/Clubs/FindAClub.aspx

http://www.usms.org/



After the conclusion of the AALL After the conclusion of the AALL Meeting, this PowerPoint will be Meeting, this PowerPoint will be available online. An e-mail will be available online. An e-mail will be sent to the listserv with the URL.sent to the listserv with the URL.

Documents

Government Information that Can Help one Avoid Some Dangers of Open Water Swimming