Chapter 13 |
RiskLike any activity or sport, there are risk and dangers you need to be aware of.
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Jelly fish
We occasionally get jelly fish here in San Diego. If you see one and aren’t familiar with jelly fish, assume its’ poisonous and get out of the water. Your Surf Dog isn't going to be watching for Jelly Fish, so be alert! Sharks Yes, there are sharks out there! Most of them here in San Diego are harmless. It's clearly not a good Idea to be surfing your Surf Dog in waters know for aggressive sharks. Don't be stupid! Here in San Diego you have a better chance of getting struck by lightning than getting attacked by a shark. Polluted Water Don't swim in the Ocean for at least 72 hours after a storm. Swim in water polluted with human and animal waste and you can develop symptoms such as stomach ache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea or flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat and coughing. In highly polluted waters, people can be exposed to hepatitis, cholera and typhoid fever. How are swimmers exposed to sickness-causing bugs? By swallowing contaminated water, mostly, but in other cases it's the result of direct exposure to bacteria via the skin, eyes or an open wound. Most beaches post "No Swimming" or "Water Contaminated" signs to warn people away when pollution reaches unhealthy levels. This applies to you and your dog! See Chapter 12 "Going Home" about bathing your dog and rinsing their ears after surfing! |
Red Tides
Red tide is a common name for a phenomenon also known as an algal bloom (large concentrations of microorganisms), an event in which estuarine, marine, or fresh water algae accumulate rapidly in the water column and results in discoloration of the surface water. It is usually found in coastal areas. Some red tides are associated with the production of natural toxins, depletion of dissolved oxygen or other harmful effects, and are generally described as harmful algal blooms. The most conspicuous effects of red tides are the associated wildlife mortalities among marine and coastal species of fish, birds, marine mammals, and other organisms. Read more on Wikipedia at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_tide. Needless to say, stay out of the water during an algal bloom (Red Tide) It's just not worth the risk! |
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On to Chapter 14Surf Dog Lingo
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