Water Safety and the Danger of Uncontrolled Floaties

[Tennesseer]

Oak Island shares safety warning after boy in unicorn float drifts a quarter-mile offshore

OAK ISLAND — As innocuous as they seem, inflatable floats can actually pose a risk to children on seemingly calm beach days.

That’s according to Oak Island Water Rescue, which recently shared safety tips after an 8-year-old boy on a unicorn raft drifted beyond the shoreline and into deep water Monday, around 12:40 p.m.

The young boy was being adequately supervised, according to Oak Island Water Rescue, and drifted an estimated quarter-to-half-mile offshore after a brief but strong gust of wind.

“Once it was out past the waves, the big float acted like a sail and the unicorn float kept going away from the beach,” Oak Island Water Rescue posted on Facebook Monday.

Oak Island shares safety warning after boy in unicorn float drifts a quarter-mile offshore


I disagree with the claim was adequately supervised. In the taped recording of the mother calling 911, the mother stated the boy was not wearing a life preserver and barely knew how to swim.

Adequately being supervised if the rider is not wearing a life preserver and barely knows how to swim would have been the float tied to a rope and an adult holding the other end of the rope so the floatie didn't blow out to sea.

Swimming lessons would be appropriate for this kid too.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Jun 11, 2019 9:10:08 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Oak Island shares safety warning after boy in unicorn float drifts a quarter-mile offshore

OAK ISLAND — As innocuous as they seem, inflatable floats can actually pose a risk to children on seemingly calm beach days.

That’s according to Oak Island Water Rescue, which recently shared safety tips after an 8-year-old boy on a unicorn raft drifted beyond the shoreline and into deep water Monday, around 12:40 p.m.

The young boy was being adequately supervised, according to Oak Island Water Rescue, and drifted an estimated quarter-to-half-mile offshore after a brief but strong gust of wind.

“Once it was out past the waves, the big float acted like a sail and the unicorn float kept going away from the beach,” Oak Island Water Rescue posted on Facebook Monday.

Oak Island shares safety warning after boy in unicorn float drifts a quarter-mile offshore


I disagree with the claim was adequately supervised. In the taped recording of the mother calling 911, the mother stated the boy was not wearing a life preserver and barely knew how to swim.

Adequately being supervised if the rider is not wearing a life preserver and barely knows how to swim would have been the float tied to a rope and an adult holding the other end of the rope so the floatie didn't blow out to sea.

Swimming lessons would be appropriate for this kid too.

[Deleted]

Good idea on the rope.

Would only have to be a light duty one at that.

[Chocolate Lover]

Had the mother never been in a large body of water in her life?  Standing on your own 2 feet in the shallow water in the Gulf of Mexico you get moved away from where you went in rather quickly. A float is just a faster way to end up in the jurisdiction of the next town over or way more than 1/4 mile out. 

I also wonder if anyone understands the word "adequate" in this case. Smh....