The Major Beach Safety Threat That’s Probably Not on Your Radar
Even the most idyllic beach vacations can turn tragic because of this often unseen danger.
Over the course of 48 hours, six people drowned at Florida beaches in June. All six people were visiting Florida from out of state when rough currents took them. Four drowned at Panama City Beach: one teen from Oklahoma, three young men from Alabama, and a couple in their fifties drowned on a beach at Hutchinson Island.
The drownings were all related to rip currents, defined by the National Weather Service as "powerful currents of water moving away from shore." The currents are so dangerous because they can sweep even powerful, experienced swimmers away from shore rapidly and cannot be seen above the water's surface.
While the six deaths that made the news were all related to visiting tourists, rip currents are a danger for anyone going to the beach this summer, no matter how much experience they have on the water. I grew up going to Florida beaches. I was on the swim team in middle and high school, spent summers learning how to surf, and started swimming in the Atlantic Ocean about the same time I started learning basic addition. Yet, when I was 14, my friends and I nearly drowned while swimming in Panama City Beach, Florida.
I had lived in Panama City for five years already, and as familiar with and confident in the water—I swam at the beach all the time. But that day, I was in water that came up to my waist when all of a sudden, I was dragged out further. A current ripped my feet out from under me, and I felt I couldn’t swim in any direction. My arms and legs tumbled as I was sucked under wave after wave. Within a minute, I was more than a hundred yards from shore, unable to touch the seafloor and trying not to suck in salty water.
I was very lucky that day; someone else at the beach happened to be an EMS rescue swimmer, and he heard my friends and I’s screams. We were able to be pulled out of the water eventually. Luck led our story to a happy ending. If there was not a trained rescue swimmer on the beach that day, able to help guide us out of the rip current then organize our removal from the water, it is highly possible that we would have drowned as well. But when you are at the beach this summer, you don’t want your safety to be reliant on luck. Here’s what you need to know about rip currents this summer and what information you need to know before heading to the beach.
Swim where lifeguards are posted
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) repeatedly cautions that you should swim where lifeguards are posted when possible. “Whenever possible, swim at a lifeguard-protected beach. Ask a lifeguard about the conditions before entering the water,” NOAA advises. “Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards and posted signs. They are there for your wellbeing.”
Know the water conditions
No matter where you plan to swim in the US, you should be able to find what the water conditions will be like before you ever step foot on the shore. The website Surf Zone Forecast can tell you the beach conditions broken down into three categories:
- Low Risk: The risk for rip currents is low, however, life threatening rip currents often occur in the vicinity of groins, jetties, reefs, and piers.
- Moderate Risk: Life tLife-threateningurrents are possible in the surf zone.
- High Risk: Life tLife-threateningurrents are likely in the surf zone.
Most beaches, especially in Florida, also have a flag system indicating the water conditions at the beach. At beach entrances signs will be posted indicating what the colors of each flag mean. Typically, green means ocean conditions are fair, yellow means proceed with caution, and red means do not enter the water. Flag meanings could vary depending on location.
Know the signs of rip currents
While rip currents are not visible to the untrained eye, you can learn the signs that indicate a strong current rests under the water. Here are signs, according to NOAA , that indicate a rip current is present:
- A narrow gap of darker, seemingly calmer water between areas of breaking waves and whitewater
- A channel of churning, choppy water
- A difference in water color
- A line of foam, seaweed, or debris moving seaward
What to do if you are caught in a rip current?
If you do find yourself in a rip current, there are ways to escape it and make it safely back to the shore. The first thing you need to do is recognize that you are in a rip current—it might not be immediately obvious. If you find yourself swimming toward shore but not making any progress, then you are probably in a rip current.
“With stronger rips you may feel that you are being pulled away from the beach,” NOAA advises. So, what do you do? These are the simple, but essential steps in safely getting out of a rip current, according to NOAA:
- Relax, rip currents don’t pull you under.
- Don’t swim against the current.
- You may be able to escape by swimming out of the current in a direction following the shoreline, or toward breaking waves, then at an angle toward the beach.
- You may be able to escape by floating or treading water if the current circulates back toward shore.
- If you feel you will be unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself. If you need help, yell and wave for assistance.
What should you do if you see someone caught in a rip current?
If you are on the beach and see someone in distress, this is what NOAA advises you to do:
- Get help from a lifeguard.
- If a lifeguard is not present, call 9-1-1,
- then try to direct the victim to swim following the shoreline to escape.
- If possible, throw the rip current victim something that floats.
- Never enter the water without a flotation device.
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