Waves and sharks aren't the only dangers at the beach. More than two dozen young people have been killed over the last decade when sand holes collapsed on them. This is a growing danger.
Now it isn't only sharks and waves you have to fear when you go to the beach. Sand holes are becoming a common killer in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom according to letter that was published by doctors for The New England Journal of Medicine. Here is the article...
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/356/25/2655
At least 20 children and adults have been victims since 1985. Backyard sand submersion's are another killer. Sand hole collapses are fast and without warning.
Dr. Bradley Maron of Harvard Medical School says,
"Typically, victims became completely submerged in the sand when the walls of the hole unexpectedly collapsed, leaving virtually no evidence of the hole or location of the victim," wrote Maron, an internal medicine resident.
Dr, Maron was a former lifeguard, and became interested in this when on duty back in 1998. That is when he witnessed a 8 yr. old girl become engulfed in a collapse. The girl survived this horrific ordeal thanks to quick help. That day had left a lasting impression on Dr. Maron, and he has spent years of tracking and writing about such incidents since.
People naturally worry about splashier threats, like shark attacks. However, the Marons' research found there were 16 sand hole or tunnel deaths in the U.S. from 1990-2006 compared with 12 fatal shark for the same period, according to University of Florida statistics.
And Bradley Maron thinks the sand-related deaths are less well-documented than shark attacks.
How scary to think that there is a death trap sitting out on the beach, and it is not being made aware to the public like it should be! How many people have to die in order to have a few simple signs put up to make people aware?
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