With more people heading to the beach to enjoy the water, it’s crucial to stay safe and know how to handle rip currents.
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Follow these tips to ensure a safe beach experience:
- Never swim alone: Always swim with a buddy. It’s safer and more enjoyable to have someone with you in the water.
- Swim near a lifeguard: Lifeguards are trained to spot and rescue people from rip currents. Always choose a beach with a lifeguard on duty.
- Avoid water with high waves: High waves can indicate the presence of rip currents. If the waves are high, it’s best to stay out of the water.
- If caught in a rip current, stay calm: Panic can exhaust you quickly. Take deep breaths and remain calm.
- Swim parallel to the shore: Instead of trying to swim directly back to shore against the current, swim parallel to the shore to escape the narrow current.
Understanding rip currents: The #1 beach hazard
Rip currents can form under the right conditions and are a significant hazard at the beach.
Look for these signs from the shore:
- Water that is a different color
- A channel of churning, choppy water
- A line of foam, seaweed, or debris moving steadily seaward
- A break in the incoming wave pattern
Key safety tips
- Know your limits: If you’re not a strong swimmer or are inexperienced, follow the rule: “When the waves are high, stay dry.” In calmer waters, don’t let the water go above your knees.
- Stay close to Lffeguards: If in doubt, don’t go out, and always swim near a lifeguard.
Rip Currents vs. Shark Attacks
To put the danger in perspective, rip currents cause significantly more deaths annually than shark attacks. Nationwide, rip currents claim about 100 lives each year, whereas shark attacks result in about one death per year. This year alone, two people died in Galveston due to rip currents.
How Rip Currents Form
The most dangerous wave pattern involves straight waves moving from south to north, creating a strong current that moves out to sea. Rip currents are powerful and fast-moving channels of water that flow away from the shore, catching people by surprise and overpowering even the strongest swimmers.
What to do if caught in a rip current
- Stay calm and conserve energy: Don’t panic. Floating or treading water can help conserve energy.
- Swim parallel to the shore: Rip currents are typically narrow (up to 80 feet wide) and can extend up to a quarter mile out to sea. Swimming parallel to the shore can help you escape the current.
- Don’t fight the current: Swimming against the current will only tire you out. If you can’t escape, float and signal for help.