Double Red Flag Violators

GRS, I understand the point of arresting over comittal. The baker act is for people who are a danger to themselves and others due to mental issues and does not include stubborness. It also requires a 72 hour hold in a mental facility. I think over night in the Defuniak Inn would do much better. They can also arrest them take them to the 331 annex and wait until enough idiots are ready to go north.

There's clearly some other issue involved here and I'm not gonna touch that with a 10 foot stick.

Amen, GB

I believe the other issue may be a personal thing. (that's why I added the last sentence to my post. pretty sure I know who GRS is)

I stand corrected. GRS is not who I thought he was. (Confirmed by phone call)(infer a confused accent)

Whatever his issues are, he seems keen on taking shots at our firefighters (vicariously though it may be) through me.

We were just at Seacrest Beach August 2nd to 16th, when there were drownings, double red flags, etc.... One thing that would help would be a telephone number listed in the rentals to get up to date beach flag/beach conditions before you decide to go to the beach. Not sure if this info is even available but I would use it before I went to the beach with my family. The info could also stress the importance of NOT GOING IN THE WATER.

Really, Is how our narrow minded Fire Department thinks? Obviously you don't know the first thing about water safety and rescue. Throw em jail? I'll remember this when you people call me to rescue people out of the water. Why because your egos got in the way. Remember that most if any have zero water rescue training and you have been given those cool jet ski's with absolutely no training in big surf conditions. I have several years life guard experience and 6 years as a rough water coxswain and as a rescue swimmer in the Coast Guard and 35 years of surfing experience all over the world including Mavericks and wiamea Bay Hawaii. My point is this, if your gonna shoot your mouth of on this site ya damn well better know what the hell your talking about. Remember the life you save may be your own!

The whole point of throwing them in jail, or fining them is to keep them from drowning, or a rescuer drowning to save some idiot that didn't head warnings.

GRS...I would like to see you get involved with SWFD water rescue, it seems you have a lot to say and perhaps a lot to offer.

Oops I did that twice...

Is there an echo in here?:roll:

Thank you SeagroveGirl. I can always count on you to nudge me back to the path.:roll:

You are right. A person with this much experience and education would be a marvelous addition to our beach safety program.

GRS you should apply to the SWFD Beach Safety Division. If you visit the SWFD Central Station at (oddly enough) 911 N. Co. Hwy. 393 you can pick up an application.

Did you folks ever fix that piece of metal trim on the roofline to the South? It always looks like rain must run right down the inside wall. Must have blown loose during a storm at one point.

Really, Is how our narrow minded Fire Department thinks? Obviously you don't know the first thing about water safety and rescue. Throw em jail? I'll remember this when you people call me to rescue people out of the water. Why because your egos got in the way. Remember that most if any have zero water rescue training and you have been given those cool jet ski's with absolutely no training in big surf conditions. I have several years life guard experience and 6 years as a rough water coxswain and as a rescue swimmer in the Coast Guard and 35 years of surfing experience all over the world including Mavericks and wiamea Bay Hawaii. My point is this, if your gonna shoot your mouth of on this site ya damn well better know what the hell your talking about. Remember the life you save may be your own!

Thank you SeagroveGirl. I can always count on you to nudge me back to the path.:roll:

You are right. A person with this much experience and education would be a marvelous addition to our beach safety program.

GRS you should apply to the SWFD Beach Safety Division. If you visit the SWFD Central Station at (oddly enough) 911 N. Co. Hwy. 393 you can pick up an application.

Did you folks ever fix that piece of metal trim on the roofline to the South? It always looks like rain must run right down the inside wall. Must have blown loose during a storm at one point.

Which building are you referring to????

Wow! You seem a little tense. Try a little yoga. Some daily exercise. Maybe a significant other. Xanax. Something...

I am so relieved to hear that god asks you for advice about water rescue! Wish you could have been there helping us on June 8th 2003. I'm sure no one would have drowned. And at a time when we didn't have lifeguards, when firefighters with very little or no training in high surf rescue were left with the choice of letting people die or swim, I am sure that you, single handedly, would have prevented our firefighters from entering the water. Whatever...

I believe the grudge you bare is because you believe I am talking about surfers when I say law breakers. If you read the previously posted BCBCC enacted ordnance, you will see that it exempts surfers. As do I. I am Sorry I wasn't more clear.

As a northern Gulf coastal resident of Florida for over 40 years, I have been fortunate enough to enjoy all water sports; swimming, diving, skiing, skimming, snorkeling, canoing, fishing, kayaking and yes, even surfing. From the time I was 16 till I was about 24 or so, I lost more part and full time jobs than I care to admit because I checked the surf on the way to work. Surfers rarely drown and I don't think I have ever responded to a surfer in trouble during double red flag conditions.

As to why our folks got into trouble while risking their lives to rescue others:
As I stated above, we had little to no experience or education in high surf rescue but were still expected to enter the water and attempt a rescue. I assure you that our egos had nothing to do with the matter. And though I can only speak for me, I am reasonably sure that implication will piss off many of the guys who risked their lives to save others on that particular day and others.

You also imply that I spoke out of school. That I didn't know what I was talking about. Because I was there, I can assure that I DO know what I was talking about. But I am less sure of these two things. 1) That you know what I was talking about. and 2) That you know what you are talking about.

Oh yeah, and I won't be calling you to rescue anyone out of the water. I don't even know who you are.

What are we talking about?

Lemme guess; You've got world records, mate. (infer an Australian accent)

From WJHG... KUDOS to Sheriff McKeithen

It is my understanding that you can be fined or arrested.

The Bay County Commission this morning, at the urging of Sheriff Frank McKeithen, adopted an emergency ordinance allowing violators of the double red flags to be arrested.
There have been several hundred rescues and 10 drownings at Panama City Beach this year, many of them while double red flags are flying indicating the beaches are closed to swimmers.
Life Guards, Police and Rescue workers say many swimmers went right back in the water after being instructed to get out.
The County commission adopted the emergency ordinance by unanimous 4 to 0 vote. Commission Jerry Girvin was absent because of a broken leg.
The Ordinance took affect when it was adopted shortly after nine this morning.

Ticketing folks for ignoring double red flags is not the answer. Charging folks for being pulled from the water and receiving life saving services sounds more reasonable to me.

Little Fish

Jurisdiction issues aside, I am QUITE happy they are doing something to punish those idiots!

I watched through my binoculars a man swimming in the water yesterday double red clearly visible I called 911 after seeing him getting pulled out by the current undertow whatever it's called I was on the phone still when an at least ten foot wave crashed on his head I lost sight of him he got pulled 2000 feet down the beach in less than a minute his wife and children were hysterical and the look of fear and panic in his eyes is forever burned in my brain. This man came sauntering up the beach while about 5 trucks including police beach police and other emergency personnel arrived my sister who was trying to calm an old couple down pointed him out and he was quickly read the riot act was made to give his information. This man gave my sister such a problem after police left she came home crying. We were told to watch our backs. I thought I was watching a man die I am glad he survived but he will be getting a very hefty fine he said I told him better that than a funeral

The wife and I were driving by the beach in Miramar Monday when there were double red flags and people were in the water everywhere. We noticed two beach vendors down there and wondered if they bear any responsibility in educating the renters.