03-22-2008, 07:04 AM
Daniel, everything written about lava viewing emphasizes the instability of ocean entry areas because the cooling lava creates new land that's highly unstable.
Not that many people fall into the lava or the ocean because most pay attention to the warnings, but if there was no information or control, sure, more would be killed.
I too get upset when someone says it doesn't hurt anyone else if he injures himself. Not only do the rescue workers risk their lives to help people, but our hospital is understaffed. On any given night there are a number of people waiting to be tended to at the Hilo ER, waiting for hours, while in pain -- as they take a back seat to people brought in by ambulance.
We all have a responsibility to try and be smart and not get injured and use resources because we are willing to take risks. Those resources belong to the community. I did read recently the list of people that are known to have been killed by the lava, and their bodies were consumed and never recovered; however, it was only known what happened to them because someone was there to see the accident. There must be others whose fates are a mystery and simply disappeared to be eventually presumed dead.
Not that many people fall into the lava or the ocean because most pay attention to the warnings, but if there was no information or control, sure, more would be killed.
I too get upset when someone says it doesn't hurt anyone else if he injures himself. Not only do the rescue workers risk their lives to help people, but our hospital is understaffed. On any given night there are a number of people waiting to be tended to at the Hilo ER, waiting for hours, while in pain -- as they take a back seat to people brought in by ambulance.
We all have a responsibility to try and be smart and not get injured and use resources because we are willing to take risks. Those resources belong to the community. I did read recently the list of people that are known to have been killed by the lava, and their bodies were consumed and never recovered; however, it was only known what happened to them because someone was there to see the accident. There must be others whose fates are a mystery and simply disappeared to be eventually presumed dead.