ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of open water environments and the safety hazards that are associated with them. Failure to take measures and commonsense practices to respond to hazards and to protect the public often results in litigation alleging negligence and sometimes gross negligence if there are repetitions of the same accident. Beaches are classified as being a high-, moderate-, or low-energy beach; and as being wave-dominated, tide-modified, or tide-dominated. Many beaches have fishing piers located within their boundaries. While piers are responsible for enhancing the beach environment, they also represent a serious safety hazard. Attached to pier pilings are sharp, razor-like barnacles and other harmful sessile organisms. Emergency response by a lifeguard or first responder to a spinal injury in the surf requires special training and usually requires "packaging" the victim in the water unless the victim is not breathing and does not have a pulse.
