As Warmer Weather Approaches, Reminder of Dangers in Water: It Can Cost a Life

As warmer weather approaches, Lithuanian lifeguards are issuing urgent warnings about the perils of water, emphasizing that panic and ignoring safety protocols can be fatal. Jonas Pirožnikas, head of the Palanga beach rescue service and president of the Lithuanian Professional Lifeguards Federation, highlights common dangers faced by swimmers.

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If you are caught in a hole, the most important thing is not to panic. Try to hold your breath and calmly swim out or surface.

He explains that a yellow flag indicates dangerous swimming conditions, yet many people disregard it. Swimmers venturing 30-50 meters from shore can be imperceptibly carried away by side currents. Returning to shore, they may encounter sudden drop-offs into holes 3-4 meters in diameter and 2-4 meters deep, leading to panic. Pirožnikas stresses that panic is the greatest threat, advising those caught in a hole to remain calm, hold their breath, and swim out or surface.

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If you are caught in a current, do not try to fight it – this will only exhaust your strength faster. It is better to stay on the surface of the water, let the current weaken, and then calmly swim to the shore.

"If you are caught in a current, do not fight it; this only exhausts you faster," Pirožnikas advises. "It is better to stay on the surface, let the current weaken, and then calmly swim to shore." He also reminds the public to adhere to beach rules, avoid swimming under the influence of alcohol or after a heavy meal, and never ignore lifeguard warnings. A red flag, he emphasizes, is a life-saving measure, not an inconvenience.

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If a red flag is raised on the beach, it is not there because lifeguards do not want to work. It is intended to protect the lives of vacationers.

Lifeguards also underscore the immense responsibility of supervising children. Young children should be held or wear life vests. Pirožnikas shared a harrowing personal experience: after rescuing a drowning child near the Palanga pier, he later responded to another drowning incident at the same spot minutes later, involving the same child, who could not be saved. This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of how quickly situations can change and how a moment of inattention can have devastating consequences.

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Children are one of our greatest responsibilities. When the sea is calm, we often become not only rescuers but also those who look for lost children.