Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
Magical moments of mediocrity.

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

user:
pass:
register,


                           

lifeguard floating Platform

 
(+1, -1)
  [vote for,
against]

Rather than sitting in house on seashore, lifeguards sit in floating platform inside the sea, some 100-200 meters from sea shore. This will save lot of time while saving people.
VJW, Jan 25 2011

Hail to the Hoff http://www.youtube....watch?v=zZUJLO6lMhI
And on the way up, he met the barrel coming down... [MaxwellBuchanan, Jan 26 2011]

[link]






       No, it won't. It will slow them down in most cases. A water-based platform is only going to be an advantage in those few cases where the victim lies more or less opposite the floating platform (ie, directly between the platform and the beach, and also closer to the platform than to the beach).   

       Suppose two lifeguards have a 400m stretch of beach to watch.   

       Suppose one of them ("S") is on a platform on the sand, 100m from the water's edge and in the middle of the 400m beach length.   

       Suppose the other one ("W") is on a platform 100m out to sea, also in the middle of the 400m stretch. (In fact, I can't see why either platform would so far from the water's edge, but you suggested 100-200m).   

       Someone gets into difficulty 50m from shore, 100m from the end of the beach (and hence 100m along-shore from each lifeguard).   

       Lifeguard "S" will run diagonally from his platform to a point on the shoreline just short of where the person is opposite. This distance will be roughly 135m or so. He will then have to swim a shade over 50m out to the person.   

       Lifeguard "W", on the other hand, will have to swim something like 120m in a line from his floating platform to the victim.   

       Given that a fit person can run at something like 9m/s, and swim at only 2m/s, lifeguard "S" is going to get there first.   

       You could do the calculus to check the numbers, but even a few moments thought is enough to see it.
MaxwellBuchanan, Jan 25 2011
  

       // a few moments thought //   

       Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!   

       Oh, god, it hurts.   

       Such optimism, such naivete.   

       And such a good point.
baconbrain, Jan 25 2011
  

       Trebuchet ...
8th of 7, Jan 25 2011
  

       Gezundheit.
MaxwellBuchanan, Jan 25 2011
  

       Orrery?
pocmloc, Jan 25 2011
  

       He said KARAOKE. And don't eat with your mouth full.
MaxwellBuchanan, Jan 25 2011
  

       Did he say floating platform... he meant to say speedboat.
rcarty, Jan 25 2011
  

       I think Baywatch people might like this idea.
VJW, Jan 26 2011
  

       How so? Isn't the whole point of baywatch to get bouncy bits to bounce?
Ling, Jan 26 2011
  

       [Max-B] is in fact the Hoff, or maybe Pamela Anderson
hippo, Jan 26 2011
  

       //[Max-B] is in fact the Hoff, or maybe Pamela Anderson//   

       Pamelia is definitely NOT the Hoff. See link.
MaxwellBuchanan, Jan 26 2011
  

       You have also not taken into consideration the effect that the tides would have on the placement of this platform. Nor have you mentioned how it would be anchored to accomodate the circumstances, so I guess this isn't such a great idea. (Good for tanning, though!)
xandram, Jan 26 2011
  
      
[annotate]
  


 

back: main index

business  computer  culture  fashion  food  halfbakery  home  other  product  public  science  sport  vehicle