Shifting Sands

The sun is shining - summer has arrived and you guessed it - somewhere there's a report warning about the dangers of summertime fun. But this one caught my attention because it's something my dear mother used to warn us about .. digging those holes to china on the beach: they can collapse and trap you.

A new study ( which was done by reviewing reams of reports) finds 52 cases of sand-hole collapses in the United States-- Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand.(they figure there are many more but these were the ones that were reported)

Sixty percent of the victims -- 31 people -- died, while many of the others needed rescuing and CPR.

Average age of the victim - 12.

The problem wasn't only on the beach - worksites, even sandboxes; wherever there's granular, large grain sand.. the stuff that's easy to dig in.

The researchers warn, never dig a hole that's more than knee deep and keep an eye on those digging so if the hole collapses, you'll be able to find the person. And always fill in the holes/tunnels you dig.