Management tools for safety in Costa Rica beaches

Abstract

More than 700 people have drowned in Costa Rica beaches since 2001, and so far, very few governmental actions have been developed in order to improve beach safety. RONMAC program (Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica) has been doing exhaustive research on rip currents since 2010. Drowning data have allowed defining the social profile of drowned people, the most risky beaches and the drowning seasonality. Young males from the central part of the country are the most prone to drown according to drowning data. Survey campaigns have been made in order to understand how the previous knowledge on rip currents and the behavior of beach users can influence their vulnerability to drown. Rip current mapping is being used to estimate beach hazard and GPS dog collar on lifesavers are being used to measure rip currents speeds and trajectories. In the last months, RONMAC together with other institutions have issued a law proposal at the Legislative Assembly for creating a National Lifesavers Brigade.