EDITORIAL: Another tragic lesson in flags, beach safety

Tragedy isn’t supposed to happen in paradise.

And yet we join the families in mourning two lives cut short this weekend by rip tides in Destin.

The nightmare scenario began Friday when a man tried to rescue two girls caught in the Gulf’s clutches. As is too often the case, the would-be rescuer became the victim, and a tourist from Georgia identified as Joseph Jones became Destin’s first drowning victim in two years.

Lest you think the Gulf only targets tourists, rip tides can outmuscle even the local warriors among us. An airman’s death a day later taught us that tragic lesson when Josh Roessell, who was with the 46th Test Wing on Eglin Air Force Base, died after he was pulled out in a rip current while playing football in waist-deep water.

Both incidents occurred after lifeguards were off duty. Both occurred under red flag conditions. But while many determined visitors ignore red flags and insist that their vacation will not be undermined by a little “undertow,” this was not the case here.

The fact is these men didn’t necessarily know it was a red flag day, because no flags were flying at the time.

It is standard practice for lifeguards to take down their flags as they leave for the day. Beach safety workers maintain it is a sign to beach-goers that the water is closed.

We’re not so sure.

In fact, we at The Log, think that while red flags are only a “minor tool,” they are the best one we have when the beaches are unpatrolled.

After all, the community has gone to great strides to educate visitors on the definition of flags.

A flying red flag would have likely made little difference in the weekend tragedies, but if there is even a one in 100 chance that it could save a life, is it not worth it?

We can understand that a city wouldn’t want green flags flying after hours. After all, even the calmest Gulf wave can be dangerous.

So to give an all clear would be bad policy and perhaps open the city to liability. But what about flying red flags throughout the evening and early morning hours — regardless of conditions. Isn’t that a better beach closed sign than no flag at all?

We recognize, though, that flag talk ignores the bigger picture. The biggest lesson here is that the Gulf can kill. We don’t know how to say it any more plainly.

Ignoring red flags or swimming after hours can be a death sentence for you or your loved ones.