Many people think they know what to do if caught in a rip current, but do you really know? Recommendations from life saving experts have recently changed.
Rip Currents, commonly called Rip Tides, take the lives of roughly 100 people every year. Recent deaths of two prominent people bring the dangers of rip currents to the forefront.
The famous Cosby Show child actor, who played Theo, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, died recently drowning in a rip current while on vacation in Costa Rica. Also, Major League Baseball prospect turned South Carolina cop, Anderson “Chase” Childers, 38, drowned in a rip current while trying to help rescue people off Pawleys Island in South Carolina.
You might think that getting caught in a rip current is a rare event and that it would never happen to you, but according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) over 80% of all beach rescues are due to swimmers being caught in rip currents.
The time to think about what to do is before the emergency happens, not in the moment. For your own safety, and that of your family, go over what to do ahead of time so you are prepared. Just like you know how you will exit your home in a fire.
Dr. Greg Dusek, Senior Scientist with NOAA said, “The East Coast sees more deaths from rip currents because of higher beach attendance in densely populated areas and intensified currents from offshore storms, especially in late summer to early fall.”
NOAA now says the age-old advice of swimming parallel to shore may not always work. Most people can swim no more than about 50 yards without touching bottom. Experts now urge you to do less and not to try to fight your way out of the current.
“If you do get caught in a rip current, the best thing you can do is stay calm. It's not going to pull you underwater, it's just going to pull you away from shore. Call and wave for help. You want to float, and you don't want to swim back to shore against the rip current because it will just tire you out,” says Dusek.
“Flip and Float”. Legs up, back of the head against the water and use only gentle movements. This will relax you, conserve energy and help you stay above water longer.
If you can, swim perpendicular to the direction of the current. If you can’t, wave, float, and wait for assistance.
What are rip currents and how to spot them?
The United States Life Saving Association (USLA) says:
- Rip currents are channelized currents of water flowing away from shore at surf beaches.
- Rip currents typically form at breaks in sandbars, and also near structures such as jetties and piers.
- Rip currents are commonly found on all surf beaches, including Great Lakes beaches.