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Break The Grip: How To Survive A Rip Current
July 7, 2022 at 09:56 PM EDT
By WeatherBug's Richard Romkee
Rip currents threaten swimmers in large bodies of water across the globe. These are the steps you can take to make sure your next trip to the beach doesn’t end in tragedy.
To start, it’s important to know a little bit about what rip currents are and how they form. Rip currents are narrow jets of fast-moving water that are racing out to sea, either at an angle or completely perpendicular to the shoreline. The water in rip currents is moving very quickly, usually at 1 to 2 feet per second though speeds of up to 8 feet per second have been observed in nature. The most common places for them to form are near breaks in sandbars, next to jetties or piers, and near cliffs that stick out into the water. High surf is often needed for rip currents to develop, especially for the creation of strong rip currents.
The mechanics of rip current formation are well known, and they can generally be predicted in advance. Using computer model simulations of ocean waves and wind speed forecasts, meteorologists can identify when rip currents are likely to form and pass that information along to the public in the form of a National Weather Service surf forecast. These forecasts are available for the Gulf of Mexico, Pacific and Atlantic Coasts and Great Lakes. Reading these forecasts before you go to the beach is helpful in staying appraised of how likely rip currents are on a given day.
Another way to stay safe is to make sure you’re a strong, skilled swimmer before trying to swim in the ocean or a large lake. There’s a big difference between a swimming pool and the ocean, especially when currents are considered.
It’s also important to know what the warning flags at a given beach mean. On most beaches, a green flag means there are no water-based hazards, with a single red flag indicating that it is very risky to be in the water due to rip currents or any number of other hazards. Keep in mind that these are just standard colors, and different beaches may use different colors so do your research about a beach before going in the water.
When you get to the beach, be sure to talk to a lifeguard if they’re available. They will often be able to give information about where rip currents have been spotted recently, or where they’re the most common, so you know what areas to avoid. If they aren’t available to have a conversation it’s helpful to at least know where the lifeguard station is located, in case something does end up going wrong. It’s also a very good idea to bring friends with you while swimming, and to have at least one friend on shore who can go get a lifeguard or call 911 if a lifeguard isn’t available.
Being prepared before getting to the water is great, but it’s not foolproof and sometimes even prepared beachgoers get stuck in a rip current. So, what do you do if you find yourself in this unenviable position?
Rule number one is simple: don’t panic. While this is obviously easier said than done, panicking will take up precious energy and could cause you to make irrational and potentially disastrous decisions. Rip currents will not try to pull you under, but they can pull you very far out to sea which can cause its own issues.
Rule number two is less intuitive but more important – don’t try to escape by going into the current, instead swim directly out of the current. Swimming into the current and directly to the shoreline is a bad idea, as the water will be pushing against your motion with thousands of pounds of force wearing you out easily. Swimming parallel to the shoreline will not be easy by any means, but it is much safer and more effective in releasing the grip of the rip current.
If you get worn out trying to swim out or do not feel confident in your ability to free yourself, remember to take deep breaths and again, resist the urge to panic. Face the shoreline if possible, and wait for rescue.
Most of rip current safety comes down to being prepared and knowing how to react before hitting the water. With these tips in mind, hopefully you can feel more relaxed ahead of your next beach outing.
Source: NWS, NOAA
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Story Image: Warning: Rip Currents, Kauai, Hawaii. (Dronepicr)
To start, it’s important to know a little bit about what rip currents are and how they form. Rip currents are narrow jets of fast-moving water that are racing out to sea, either at an angle or completely perpendicular to the shoreline. The water in rip currents is moving very quickly, usually at 1 to 2 feet per second though speeds of up to 8 feet per second have been observed in nature. The most common places for them to form are near breaks in sandbars, next to jetties or piers, and near cliffs that stick out into the water. High surf is often needed for rip currents to develop, especially for the creation of strong rip currents.
The mechanics of rip current formation are well known, and they can generally be predicted in advance. Using computer model simulations of ocean waves and wind speed forecasts, meteorologists can identify when rip currents are likely to form and pass that information along to the public in the form of a National Weather Service surf forecast. These forecasts are available for the Gulf of Mexico, Pacific and Atlantic Coasts and Great Lakes. Reading these forecasts before you go to the beach is helpful in staying appraised of how likely rip currents are on a given day.
Another way to stay safe is to make sure you’re a strong, skilled swimmer before trying to swim in the ocean or a large lake. There’s a big difference between a swimming pool and the ocean, especially when currents are considered.
It’s also important to know what the warning flags at a given beach mean. On most beaches, a green flag means there are no water-based hazards, with a single red flag indicating that it is very risky to be in the water due to rip currents or any number of other hazards. Keep in mind that these are just standard colors, and different beaches may use different colors so do your research about a beach before going in the water.
When you get to the beach, be sure to talk to a lifeguard if they’re available. They will often be able to give information about where rip currents have been spotted recently, or where they’re the most common, so you know what areas to avoid. If they aren’t available to have a conversation it’s helpful to at least know where the lifeguard station is located, in case something does end up going wrong. It’s also a very good idea to bring friends with you while swimming, and to have at least one friend on shore who can go get a lifeguard or call 911 if a lifeguard isn’t available.
Being prepared before getting to the water is great, but it’s not foolproof and sometimes even prepared beachgoers get stuck in a rip current. So, what do you do if you find yourself in this unenviable position?
Rule number one is simple: don’t panic. While this is obviously easier said than done, panicking will take up precious energy and could cause you to make irrational and potentially disastrous decisions. Rip currents will not try to pull you under, but they can pull you very far out to sea which can cause its own issues.
Rule number two is less intuitive but more important – don’t try to escape by going into the current, instead swim directly out of the current. Swimming into the current and directly to the shoreline is a bad idea, as the water will be pushing against your motion with thousands of pounds of force wearing you out easily. Swimming parallel to the shoreline will not be easy by any means, but it is much safer and more effective in releasing the grip of the rip current.
If you get worn out trying to swim out or do not feel confident in your ability to free yourself, remember to take deep breaths and again, resist the urge to panic. Face the shoreline if possible, and wait for rescue.
Most of rip current safety comes down to being prepared and knowing how to react before hitting the water. With these tips in mind, hopefully you can feel more relaxed ahead of your next beach outing.
Source: NWS, NOAA
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Story Image: Warning: Rip Currents, Kauai, Hawaii. (Dronepicr)