Mar. 24–PANAMA CITY BEACH — Wearing a bracelet could save a life. If, that is, it’s one of water-safety enthusiast David Coupe’s — a takeoff on the rubber bracelets made popular by cyclist Lance Armstrong and featuring Panama City Beach’s five-flag warning system. The warning system, implemented last year, uses a system of colored beach flags to indicate surf conditions: green for calm, yellow for caution, red for danger, two reds for closure and purple for hazardous marine life. A trip to a local water park several years ago sparked the idea that eventually became Coupe’s bracelets. He said his young children were given brightly colored bands upon entry to the park — bands they wore for days because they thought they were “cool.” “I thought, ‘What a great way to share information about the flag system,’” Coupe said. Prior to last year, Panama City Beach used a three-flag system: red for danger, yellow for caution and blue for calm. A state law enacted in 2003 — in the wake of at tiffany jewelry least two dozen drownings in the state — encourages but does not mandate a uniform system of five flags. Panama City Beach switched last year for fear of confusing unfamiliar tourists after counties to the west began using the new system. Development at the beach is working against efforts to warn tourists of dangers, Coupe said. “Used to, you could drive down the beach and see the flags,” Coupe said. “Not anymore.” The 20-plus story condominiums lining the beach often obstruct view of the flags, he said, and many of the signs posted at beach accesses are facing the water, to be seen when beachgoers are leaving the water, not before they enter. Coupe’s efforts are not for profit, and the first batch of 500 bracelets he bought himself at about 20 cents each. He said that while he has the copyrights to the five- flag bracelets, he is hoping that Beach businesses and hotels will pick up the ball and sponsor the endeavor, adding that e-mail addresses or advertising can be printed on the inside of the wrist wear. The hotels could give out the bracelets during check-in, Couple said. “I want to distribute them free, and you could give them to the beach patrol to hand out, because they’re going up and down the beach all day,” he said. For more information, call Coupe at 819-5051 or e-mail swimsmart@knology.com.
Bracelets could help spread swim warnings: Wrist watch
Mar. 24–PANAMA CITY BEACH — Wearing a bracelet could save a life. If, that is, it’s one of water-safety enthusiast David Coupe’s — a takeoff on the rubber bracelets made popular by cyclist Lance Armstrong and featuring Panama City Beach’s five-flag warning system. The warning system, implemented last year, uses a system of colored beach flags to indicate surf conditions: green for calm, yellow for caution, red for danger, two reds for closure and purple for hazardous marine life. A trip to a local water park several years ago sparked the idea that eventually became Coupe’s bracelets. He said his young children were given brightly colored bands upon entry to the park — bands they wore for days because they thought they were “cool.” “I thought, ‘What a great way to share information about the flag system,’” Coupe said. Prior to last year, Panama City Beach used a three-flag system: red for danger, yellow for caution and blue for calm. A state law enacted in 2003 — in the wake of at tiffany jewelry least two dozen drownings in the state — encourages but does not mandate a uniform system of five flags. Panama City Beach switched last year for fear of confusing unfamiliar tourists after counties to the west began using the new system. Development at the beach is working against efforts to warn tourists of dangers, Coupe said. “Used to, you could drive down the beach and see the flags,” Coupe said. “Not anymore.” The 20-plus story condominiums lining the beach often obstruct view of the flags, he said, and many of the signs posted at beach accesses are facing the water, to be seen when beachgoers are leaving the water, not before they enter. Coupe’s efforts are not for profit, and the first batch of 500 bracelets he bought himself at about 20 cents each. He said that while he has the copyrights to the five- flag bracelets, he is hoping that Beach businesses and hotels will pick up the ball and sponsor the endeavor, adding that e-mail addresses or advertising can be printed on the inside of the wrist wear. The hotels could give out the bracelets during check-in, Couple said. “I want to distribute them free, and you could give them to the beach patrol to hand out, because they’re going up and down the beach all day,” he said. For more information, call Coupe at 819-5051 or e-mail swimsmart@knology.com.
Credit: The News Herald, Panama City, Fla.