Rotary Club Targets Visitors in Attempt to Raise Water Safety Awareness

Nine drownings in Kaua`i’s ocean in the first three months of 2013 compelled Rotary Club of Kapa`a to take action. The Kaua`i community has been soul-searching for ways create greater awareness of how dangerous the ocean can be, especially for visitors. Seven of the drownings were tourists. The Rotary Club is completing a project that it hopes will make a difference. Using funds from the Club’s Kapa`a Foundation and others, a revised and edited water safety video run continuously on 55-inch high definition displays at the baggage claim areas.

“This video is really a huge attempt at what we have to do better, to get people to be more aware of the problem and educate people what to be aware of at the beaches,” said Dr. Monty Downs, Kaua`i Lifeguard Association president, in a press release.

The installation from Island Signal and Sound is underway at both baggage claim areas at the Lihu`e Airport. A blessing and ribbon cutting ceremony will be at 11 a.m. April 10 at Baggage Claim B in the Lihu`e Airport.

The video adds the latest water safety information, such as how to use the rescue tubes on local beaches. It also includes websites for checking water conditions, such as kauaiexplorer.com and the iPhone application, Kaua`i Beach Guide, which provides real-time beach conditions. The video will also be shown in some local hotel closed circuit video systems.

“We’ve simply got to find more and more ways to get the information out to the public. If we save even one life by increasing awareness of the dangers of our waters, the effort will have been worth it,” said Paul Arrigo, past President of Rotary Club of Kapa`a.