And then look to see if there's a hazardous rip current statement for your local beach. If you have waves two to three feet high or greater, you could have strong rip currents. And then also where there's maybe foam or sediment in the water being transported away from the beach offshore.īefore you go to the beach, always check your local beach conditions. Rip currents are easier to see at an elevated position, like a dune line or beach access, and then look for places where waves aren't breaking, so flat spots in the line of breaking waves. But when you go to the beach, start off by staying back from the water. Spotting a rip current can be difficult, and really needs some practice. Instead, the best way to help is to throw them something that floats and immediately get a lifeguard for help. And then when you go in the water, always bring flotation.Īlways let a lifeguard make a rip current rescue, because often, the people that try to make rescues themselves end up being the ones who drown. And then many beaches have things like a flag system, or other forms of communication to be able to tell you if the conditions are hazardous.īut if you go to a beach without a lifeguard, when you get there, you want to make sure you know how to spot a rip current, and if you get caught in one, know how to get out. And then if you have questions about if the conditions are hazardous or not, ask a lifeguard. When you first get to the beach, the best thing you can do is swim near a lifeguard. You want to swim out of the rip, parallel to shore, along the beach and then follow breaking waves back to shore at an angle. 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. It's not going to pull you underwater, it's just going to pull you away from shore.Ĭall and wave for help. If you do get caught in a rip current, the best thing you can do is stay calm. A rip current is a narrow, fast-moving channel of water that starts near the beach and extends offshore through the line of breaking waves.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |