The "triple warning system" is not the answer as it doesn't address the real problem.
My solution is for 3 graphics on a piece of laminated A4 that the lifeguards could carry and show people, particularly those in the red flag areas. The first graphic would be the typical one with the picture of a swimmer with a big red cross overlayed. The second graphic would be of a person standing in water up to his sternum, also overlayed with a big red cross. The third graphic would show a person standing in water just below his belly-button and this would be overlayed with a big green tick.
The word "swimming" is being misinterpreted and misunderstood. Very, very few people actually go swimming at the beach, they are wading.... not swimming!
In 1988 I got swept out to sea at Nai Harn beach, there were crusty old signs right along the west coast beaches warning of "No Swimmimg from May-October", no problems I thought, as I'm not going to be swimming, I'm going to be wading.
This is the problem the lifeguards face particularly with the Chinese and Russians. The people who don't know how to actually swim, when told by a lifeguard not to go swimming, are thinking to themselves (like I did), "it's ok, I'm just going to be wading"
The lifeguards are thinking their instructions are being disobeyed or ignored, whilst the beachgoers believe they are doing as they are told, i.e. they're not swimming, they're wading!
Imagine if you are walking along an unfamiliar road in a foreign country and some locals came up and kept saying to you "don't run! don't run!", you smile and keep on walking, but the persistent locals keep telling you "don't run! don't run!, now you are starting to get a little annoyed as clearly you are walking not running, so you wave them away and keep on walking, unbeknownst to you that they were actually trying to tell you that the road ahead runs straight over a cliff. This is what's happening on Phucket beaches. It has nothing to do with swimming at all! It's about warning people not to go out too far. My simple idea will work and it will relieve the frustration that lifeguards have as my graphics will actually send the correct message in everybody's language.

Posted by Anton on August 17, 2015 09:04

Anton - All lifeguards already have multi-language, graphical, laminated warning signs that I design and distribute free to them as required.

This is what the sign looks like:

http://bbr.asia/sign.jpg

The lifeguards tell me that the sign works very well to explain the dangers to the unwary and unbelieving.

The problem is that the beaches in Phuket are long - the lifeguards can only patrol and monitor small sections of the beach - areas outside of their eyesight are typically set with red warning flags.

Many of these drownings are occurring in areas that are not patrolled by the lifeguards - they simply do not have the manpower to monitor the whole length of the beach.

That being the case, the logical solution is to advise and warn tourists before they get to the beaches.

I provide suitable warning signs (and the jpg file) free of charge to any hotel who requests these from me), for placement in hotel guest rooms or hotel reception.

But warnings also need to be provided on the inbound flights, at the airport and (especially) on the buses which deliver the tourists to their hotels.

I am trying to see if I can expand my warning sign system to include the many buses which collect tourists from the airport.

Posted by Simon Luttrell on August 17, 2015 10:22

@ Editor & @ Anton.

Editor the problem drownings is 100% big! Every drowning is 1 to many. R.I.P. to all who died this week and all past weeks and years and still to come! Editor Anton's solution is a least a good way to reduce to drownings! We save a lot of lifes if we bring the current 100% back to a lot less. If you can't safe them all, Then try to safe as many as you can. Thank you Anton I believe in your approach. I can only hope the Governor will read your message.

Posted by phuketgreed on August 17, 2015 10:25

@ Editor & Anton.

BTW Editor I don't believe many Birmese and or Thai's will check Inn at Resorts along Phuket!

Posted by phuketgreed on August 17, 2015 10:28

@ Editor, It is not only the Non-swimmers who drown and die Alan. The guy (with all respect) who drown yesterday went swimming for years every morning! A current can swallow anyone away into deep waters. We simply are not trained/know how and where to get away from it! Alan from many drownings we only assume who could swim or not! The suisse guy was more experienced then far most! I'll just have less change to drown then these people do! I simply avoid sea when the water is rough.

Posted by phuketgreed on August 17, 2015 12:18

There is only one solution ... close the beaches during the most dangerous time of the year.

Unfortunately that won't happen because the authorities and business (both Western and Thai) couldn't care less as long as the money keeps rolling in.

Humanity and lives are being put before profit.

I've watched the lifeguards and they do a bloody good job. Unfortunately for them most of those on the beach refuse to listen to their warnings and ignore the signs.

It could be argued that the deaths are attributed to their own stupidity but people who are not fully aware of the dangers will always take a risk; especially when on holiday.

Posted by Graham on August 17, 2015 12:48

I would like to just comment on the sad drowning at Naiharn yesterday.

I knew Ernie, he swam at the "safe end" of Naiharn daily, he was a strong swimmer and totally in tune with the waters conditions. Yesterday was a mild day, I was there just a few minutes before this sad event.

I am not a doctor, and drowning certainly may have been the ultimate result, however something else must have happened (possibly a heart attack) first. He was an extremely responsible man and the only thing I can say is:
R.I.P Ernie, we will miss you.

Posted by Tom Ultmann on August 17, 2015 14:28

@ Graham, I'm not in favor in your methide for closing in fixed/dated periods! Closing should be only "dictated/enforced" when swimmers/wassers/fishers(locals) bring the lives from others also in danger! Closing / forbidden should only be done when Nature Calls for it. So when the weather is bad. You can't shedule this on a calender. What if we put early mornings/when needed Iron sticks in the sand and with Colored pre-printed plastic tape in several languages mark those parts of the beaches where for sure it is dangerous. Like the Police use in Movies! So you close in for example Patong beach (3.000 meter stretched) 4 dangerous zones off. Then combine this with all incoming flight messages. Handout leaflets on the airport and Request/Order Hotels/Guesthouse/Resorts to do the same. More suggestions welcome.

Posted by phuketgreed on August 17, 2015 15:31

I'm echoing Tom Ulmann:

there is zero forensic investigation hapenning about particular reason of each drowning.

As a result we know close to nothing why a person has drown,except if there were some apparent manifestation of nature like rip current that took someone few hundred meters offshore or large wave crashed on someone's back.

I don't understand why people drown, both low and high season, on Phuket beaches,in vicinity of Racha is.or PhiPhi: it mostly looks like someone suddenly drowned,and if no homicide is suspected,then it an"accident".

Actually ,very thorough investigation should undertaken in every case to understand mechanics how every particular drowning happened - for that there should be qualified personnel on Phuket, not the nearest forensic laboratory in Suratthani,who,preferably do that on systematic basis and over the time are able to produce some meaningful results of research . Then it would be possible to identify factors that contributed to drowning ,further research them,and,most importantly design adequate steps to prevent it:

- we don't know,except few apparent cases,how forces of sea contributed to drowning: whether a wave crashed over the head, a person became disoriented ,or ,first, got some water into lungs - whether accidentally, or there were particular sea conditions contributing to it - and what exactly those sea conditions were,
- sequence of events that led to catastrophic failure of body : whether it eas water lungs - heart stopped ,or say, sting of sea snake - failure of CNS - water in lungs ,etc.
- in particular worth of detailed investigation are deaths ,almost enmasse, of Chinese tourists ,"just snorkelling"- whether some particular health condition is well contributing to an event,or some regimen,or lack of snorkeling skills - then what actions in particular led to drowning - whether tourusts because of lack of experience started to do exactly What..?

- of course heart attack,stroke etc.should be identified, if happened at that time,or sometimes,unnoticed shortly before

I never snorkel , go off with kayak and so on,off Phuket beaches as I don't understand exact reasons why so many people has drowned,at all seasons. However I well do at other destinations.

There should be massive upgrade of thinking of leadership of Phuket based agencies to bring the change on the ground: get funding for a facility, get qualified people, actually among the best in the field, put correct tasks for them, and team up with academics for in-depth research and with other agencies who will transmiss finding into scheme of making public aware, and will keep a public aware.

Posted by Sue on August 17, 2015 15:42

The TAT have a balancing act to carry out because if they make visitors and prospective visitors aware of the dangers of swimming in the sea especially at this time of year then people may choose other destinations for their vacations.

Posted by Paul on August 18, 2015 09:40

@Simon Luttrell
The graphic that you produce can be ambiguous. Does it mean "No swimming and don't enter the water" or does it mean "No Swimming but you can come in as long as you don't do any freestyle or backstroke etc". I chose that latter meaning and got swept out to sea for it. My "3 graphic" concept was born from this life changing event. It will take away any ambiguity. My 3 graphic sign (or flag for that matter) says, " Today is not recommended for swimming, but if you plan on coming in, then be careful about the depth" It also shows in a subtle way that the difference between living and dying could be as little as the distance from your sternum to your belly button.
If my design was incorporated into all the red flags or hanging in conjunction with the red flags, I think that the Russian and Chinese people in particular, would finally "get it" and perhaps then we'll see less frustrated lifeguards.

Posted by Anton on August 19, 2015 00:20