Swimming Safety, Rip Current Tips

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Rip currents are powerful currents of water moving away from shore. On average, more people die every year from rip currents than from shark attacks, tornadoes, lightning or hurricanes. According to the United States Lifesaving Association, 80 percent of surf beach rescues are attributed to rip currents, and more than 100 people die annually from drowning when they are unable to escape a rip current.

Rip currents can attain speeds as high as 8 feet per second. This is faster than an Olympic swimmer can sprint! Some rip currents last for a few hours; others are permanent. Rip currents range from 50 to 100 feet or more in width. They can extend up to 1000 feet offshore.

If caught in a rip current:

•	Remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
•	Never fight against the current.
•	Think of it like a treadmill that cannot be turned off, which you need to step to the side of.
•	Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim at an angle--away from the current--towards shore.
•	If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
•	If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by waving your arm and yelling for help.

More Information:

• Ocean & Swimming Safety

• Jellyfish Stings

• Protection from the Sun

• Help keep our beaches clean

• Rip Currents - Break The Grip of The Rip!

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