It is easy to panic while being lugged out to sea by a riptide. Panicking, however, makes the situation all the more deadly.
Know what to do when you lose control in the water to avoid panicking and share these tips with young swimmers, especially.
Scijinks.gov says to “wave, yell, swim parallel.”
Draw attention to yourself by waving your arms and yelling so it is more likely a lifeguard on duty will notice you.
Most importantly, do not try to swim directly back to shore, as you will only tire yourself out. Rather, swim parallel to the shore until you feel yourself gaining control again.
About 100 people in the U.S. drown annually in riptides, also known as rip currents, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Learning how to identify riptides by looking out over the water can keep you and your loved ones from having to fight the current.
“Rip currents often form where sand bars are near the shore,” according to NOAA. “They occur at breaks or channels in the bar. ... It’s easier to see a rip current from higher up — such as from the beach access over dunes or a lifeguard’s tower.
“They’re often difficult to see, but you can spot them in areas where waves aren’t breaking, or where there’s foam, seaweed, or discolored water being pulled offshore.”
NOAA also warns that the conditions under which riptides can occur might not be what you expect.
“Waves don’t have to be huge for a rip current to form — two or three feet are all it takes. And the weather doesn’t have to be bad for a rip current to emerge. They often occur in the nice days after a storm. They’re usually strongest near low tide, but can form at any time,” the administration wrote.
There has been a lifeguard shortage in recent summers, as reported by My Horry News, so various beach services including Lack’s Beach Service and John’s Beach Service along the Grand Strand are working to employ more lifeguards for this summer to increase beach safety and meet the needs of beach-goers.
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