At the sandy edge of the Merrimack River, the still, shallow water is deceitful. Swimmers wading out further from shore to cool off from the heat quickly discover, the bank drops off into deeper, faster-moving water. Three people lost their lives last summer in drowning incidents and others facing distress were saved by others.
This year, the Canterbury Fire Department installed emergency flotation devices and more warning signs in hopes of saving lives. It’s an extension of efforts between the towns of Canterbury, Boscawen and the city of Concord last summer to improve danger warnings for both English and non-English speaking people.
“Based on the data we have these rings may have made a difference,” said Michael Gamache, the Canterbury Fire Chief.
The four beaches in Canterbury – Pebble, Chapman, Riverland and West Road Beach – are swim at your own risk with no lifeguards.
“Swimmers use extreme caution,” the signs read in red letters. They include an illustration of a person on the water’s edge and the dangerous drop-off they could experience just feet from the shore.
Now, an orange flotation device and throw rope hang under the warning.
The signs also include GPS coordinates and the name of the beach so people can identify their location when calling for help. Last year, callers’ confusion about their location resulted in a delayed response for emergency help, according to Gamache.
For spots like Pebble Beach, a hidden area down a dirt road, there are no landmarks or easy access points. To get to the spot, beach goers have to walk a half-mile down a wooded path.
In a four-wheeler, Gamache ducked and dodged branches on his way down to the beach along the bend of the river. The fire truck is too large to access the beach.
The signs were first introduced last summer after three people died in the river, which saw an unusual amount of people swimming there as most municipal pools were closed. When heat waves hit, the river was packed.
Three weeks ago, Gamache and his team reinstalled the signs at Canterbury’s four beaches. He also made sure they all knew how to get to each of the popular swimming spots. Each fire truck is also equipped with a map of the area highlighting beach access points and the directional flow of the river.
Now the rings are the latest effort to keep swimmers safe this summer.
“If it makes a difference, it’s money well spent,” said Gamache.