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Mar
8
Saving Lives at Cocles Beach
March 8, 2011 | Tags: Accidents and Natural Disasters, Helping Out | Comments Off
An idyllic day at the beach almost turned deadly for Canadian tourist Bonnie W. in January when she got caught in a rip current at Cocles Beach (Playa Cocles), south of Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica.
The lifeguard who performed the rescue at Cocles of Bonnie W.
“I was swimming when, suddenly, I realized I was very far away from the beach,” Bonnie said. “I tried to swim back to shore but I seemed to be stuck. I could feel myself getting sucked back further and further away from the shore. I started to panic.”
Bonnie was caught in a rip current — a powerful, narrow current of water that flows rapidly away from the shore, often at speeds in excess of 5 miles-per-hour (8 kilometers-per-hour). It is estimated that rip currents are responsible for about 80% of ocean drowning.
While a rip current often measures 200 feet (62 meters) to 2,500 feet (762 meters) in length, they are typically less than 30 feet (9 meters) wide. As a result, a person can often escape one by remaining calm and swimming parallel to the beach until the current loses strength. Once out of the rip current, they can then swim towards shore. However, many tourists unfamiliar with rip currents panic, and risk become exhausted and drowning.
“Had the lifeguard not been there, I could have drowned,” Bonny said. “I am so grateful to the lifeguard and the Playa Cocles Lifeguard Program.”
This sign explains how the flag system works to alert you to ocean conditions. A red flag indicates that it is too dangerous, stay out of the water. A yellow flag indicates that you should not go in above waist level. A green flag indicates safe swimming. Note that the blue flags seen on some beaches are an indication that the beach has been certified under Costa Rica’s “Bandera Azul” program for excellent water quality and beach cleanliness. It does not indicate ocean conditions.
Cocles Beach is the only lifeguard-patrolled beach on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. Managed by volunteers, the program receives no government funding and relies on donations from local businesses, residents and tourists. That funding is often in short supply and the program has been temporarily suspended in the past when it was unable to raise the money needed to pay the lifeguards, who are paid ₡11,000 per day (approximately US$22).
The minimum monthly bill for running Playa Cocles Lifeguard Program is ₡660,000 (approximately US$1,320), which pays for two lifeguards a day. Its lifeguards have rescued more than 1,500 swimmers at Cocles beach since the service began.
Every donation helps – please support the Playa Cocles Lifeguard Program by making a donation (PayPal accepted). Local business owners in Puerto Viejo can also sign up to provide regular monthly support for the program. For more information, please email Eddie Ryan at La Costa de Papito. More information is available on the Cocles Lifeguard Program website.
Tips:
- Avoid rip currents by always swimming between the red and yellow flags.
- Do not swim alone. Have someone on the beach looking out for you.
- Avoid beaches that are not attended by lifeguards.
- If you find yourself caught in a rip current, stay calm. Conserve your energy by floating or treading water.
- Don’t fight the current by trying to swim back to shore directly against the rip – you could become exhausted and drown. Instead, try to swim parallel to the beach. Once you are out of the current, swim towards shore.
- If you cannot escape the rip, draw attention to yourself: face the shore, wave your arms and yell for help.
- If you see someone who is caught in a rip current, alert a lifeguard. If there is no lifeguard, throw them a floatation device or surf board. Do not go in after them!
| Article by Laura McLeod. Laura is a writer, editor and communications specialist in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She loves toucans, gallo pinto and dreams of moving to Costa Rica one day. lsoucek@shaw.ca. |
Mar
6
All my life I’ve been a nature girl. I’ve hiked the Appalachian Trail and traipsed around Montana’s Rocky Mountains. Living in Costa Rica for three and a half years has qualified me for jungle woman status, as well. At least I thought so. I go barefoot, climb muddy slopes and at times, even act like a monkey. However, to be a real jungle woman you’ve got to survive the initiation. Experience, as always, is the best teacher and that is how I learn – the hard way.
In the jungle, common sense is key. I look first before I grab a tree branch because they say a bite from a Bullet Ant will knock you to the ground. I stay on clear trails so I can see what is underfoot. I use whatever common sense I can muster, but sometimes it just eludes me. That was the case one day at the waterfall, when I was attacked by a plant! It was my fault, really – I threw the first punch.
I’d found a nice flat rock in the middle of the stream, perfect for sunbathing. I thought I’d be like a real native and use the huge, heart shaped leaf of a philodendron plant for a mat to lay on. I grabbed hold of the stem and tore off the leaf as a young boy sat by and watched. Immediately I tossed the leaf away, “Aye, huele malo! (it smells bad)” I exclaimed. The kid laughed.
Soon my hands began to tingle. I washed them in the stream but it made no difference. The tingling grew into painful pin pricks. Born and raised nearby, my little friend knew what was happening to me. I told him if I died to please return my dog to my daughter. He told me not to worry, I’d survive, but it may take all day for the pain to subside. The pain was mostly gone in two hours but some tingling lingered into the next morning. The places that had come into direct contact with the sap were swollen, red and sore. The second day, a rash appeared in random areas on my hands and forearms. For the next ten days the rash diminished in some areas and showed up in others. This plant was potent and it’s poison was still in my system.
When I told of my alarming plant experience, everyone wanted to know what kind of plant it was. I had no photo and a description from my memory was of little use. So with a friend and my camera I went back to the waterfall. We asked some locals and were told that there are various poisonous plants in the jungle. They pointed out a few, right where we were standing. With thick, green stems and large, flat leaves, they all looked alike to me. To establish a correct identity, I would have to go back to the very same plant that got me. As we headed out we were warned about the milk of the plant and told, “If you get it on your skin you must pee on it.”
Off we trudged, up to the waterfall. There had been lots of rain, in recent days and the river was flowing fast. As we trekked through the damp, profuse herbage, I scanned a million different kinds of plants, many similar to the creepy one, yet all looking deceptively innocent. We crossed the rocky creek a few more times and then scampered up hill to the waterfall. The fifty foot falls rushed, surged and blasted water over the rocks and down the side of the mountain. It was pounding furiously, throwing tons of water per second.
The plant in question was above the waterfall. It looked different than I remembered. The leaves were not heart shaped, but long and oval. And it was not a philodendron. To be absolutely certain it was the plant I was looking for, I covered my fingers for protection and snapped the stem. Out seeped white sap that stunk to high heaven: this was it! After taking pictures at every possible angle, I made my way back to Ricky. Together we descended the high trail.
Down at the bottom I noticed a smaller version of the plant I’d seen above the waterfall. I pointed it out to Ricky. Secretly hoping he would grab a leaf so I could have him test the Pee Theory, I told him, “The only way I’d know for sure if this is the same one, is if I smelled it.” Honestly, I didn’t want him to get hurt but before I could stop him, Ricky broke off a leaf for me to smell. It was the same plant as the nasty one that had gotten me. The smell was so distinctive there was no mistake about it.
“Watch out for the sap!” I cautioned. Too late – it was already on his fingers. “Now you’ll have to pee on your hands – go ahead and do it. You’re the scientific experiment.” I told him. He turned away and he did it. The Pee Theory was tried and found true. Ricky didn’t complain of any discomfort after that.
When I got home, I was heartened to hear that Gringos are not the only ones who learn from unpleasant experience around here. My landlord, Charlie Bull, an old guy who’s lived here all his life, has tangled with this plant before. I showed him my photos. He had no doubt as to what it was, “We call it Dumb Cane.” I looked it up and that is indeed what my plant appears to be: more formally called Dieffenbachia. Several sources on the internet said:
This herb is often found in river valleys and on steep slopes. Freshly cut parts are very skin irritating. After one day rashes develop. Irreversible skin damage is possible. (Fortunately that did not happen.) When brought into the eye, the sap can cause injury of the cornea. All parts of this plant are very poisonous when ingested. Some investigators claim that Dieffenbachia contains an active enzyme that can cause suffocation through swelling of the throat and larynx.
Mr. Bull expounded on his experience with this toxic plant. In his younger years he owned a large cocoa plantation. “I know this plant, it was all the time on the farm,” he said in his native patois. “When they chop (clear vegetation) you don’t know it’s there and you walk through. It get on your feet. OOH! It hurt something terrible!” I asked about the pee advice I’d been given earlier that day. Bull was not at all surprised. “Yes,” he replied, “Well, pee really work for everything. It work for the plant and if you go in the ocean and something pinch you, pee on that and it take away the pain. They say if you have good pee, it even make a wash for the eye.”
These “wake up calls” have engendered all kinds of learning experiences for me, in Costa Rica. I was once, bit by a scorpion but scared more than injured. I saw a Terciopelo slithering on the jungle path ahead and learned how to avoid Costa Rica’s most dangerous snake. There has never been any serious injury or lasting damage – only enough danger to scare me. This will make me think twice before accosting a plant. And I’ll be sure to drink lots of water in case of a pee emergency.
 Article by Lisa Valencia. Lisa moved to Costa Rica in 2007. She is an artist and also provides personal guide services. “I believe in living life to the absolute fullest. I believe in giving without regard to what you get. And I am thankful, grateful and appreciative of almost every little thing in every moment of life.” You can read more at her blog www.travelexperiencecostarica.com where a longer version of this article originally appeared. |
Mar
4
San Jose – Limon Roadwork Through Sunday
March 4, 2011 | Tags: Transport | Comments Off
The road will be closed to repaint lines.
Conavi has advised that Highway 32, which is the most direct route between San Jose and Limon, will be closed today through Sunday from 9am to 3pm daily for maintenance.
Buses and cars will therefore need to take the longer route via Turrialba.
This information is subject to change so drivers are advised to call the road update hotline at 800-TRANSITO, option #1, option #4 (in Spanish only and from within Costa Rica only).
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