Now that Summer has arrived, its time to pack up the kids and beach blankets and go get wet and sandy! But, do you know how do identify and avoid the infamous rip current? An estimated 100 people die annually by drowning attributed to rip currents, and rip current rescues make up 80% of all beach lifeguard rescues in the United States.
A rip current is an area of fast moving water that travels away from the beach and back through the breaking waves. They can be found at all beaches around the world and are especially common where sand bars break or near rock jetties and piers. Rip currents can very greatly in speed from moment to moment and can reach speeds of up to 8mph -that's faster than an Olympic Swimmer! Rip currents are often mistakenly called rip tides or undertow. They do not pull swimmers under water. Rather, they pull them away from the beach and shallow water. Most rip current drownings happen because of panic and fatigue.
How do you recognize a rip current? When you are in the water, it is easy to feel one. It will feel as if you're standing in a swift moving river that is running away from the beach,. If you feel this, beware! There are a couple of ways to identify a rip current from dry land. Look for channels of water in between breaking waves that look smoother or choppy instead of rolling. They may even be a different color than surrounding water.
Rip currents also will show themselves in the form of crosshatched or "square" waves. Look for lines of wave foam that are perpendicular to one another. Below is a photo I took last week off the coast near Savannah, Ga. Note the are circled in the picture:
The final, and best way to identify a rip current is to let the experts do it for you. Most public beaches in the U.S. are monitored by lifeguards and other agencies and rip hazards are communicated by a system of standardized flags. If you see a red flag, stay away from that area!
If you do happen to get caught in a rip current, what should you do? Rip currents are powerful and fast. More powerful than the best swimmers. Your instincts will tell you to get back to the beach as quick as you can, but this could be a fatal mistake. Instead, relax, observe the water and waves around you, and try not to panic. If you are able, call out to someone on the beach so that they can take note of your position in the water and summon help. Often, rip currents only travel out as far as the breaking waves, so if you just relax and tread water, you will be free shortly. Rip currents are usually narrow also, so if you swim parallel to the shore, you can escape easily. Once you have swam far enough along shore to be out of the current, the waves will help to bring you back in. The important thing is DO NOT FIGHT AGAINST THE RIP. If you see someone caught in a rip, do not rush out to save them. A tragic number of rip current rescues and fatalities involve someone who was trying to rescue a loved one. Shout instructions to them and alert lifeguards instead.
Don't let rip currents ruin your beach vacation! As always, knowledge and good swimming skills can help make this a safe, fun summer!
Coach Jeff
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