While concerns about sharks, rays and jellyfish are the order of the day on the beach, there is a much more dangerous threat lurking along coastlines around the world: rip currents. Contrary to popular belief, rip currents do not drag you under the waves, rather, they carry you away from the coast and out to sea. Tragically, people who succumb to panic and fight futilely against the current may find themselves in a desperate situation, and even risk drowning.
In this article we are going to tell you how to identify and escape rip currents.
What are rip currents?
Rip currents, known for their elusive nature, contribute to more than 80% of lifeguard rescues in the United States and 60% of rescue incidents handled by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in the United Kingdom. The challenge lies in its undetectable presence.
Rip currents, which form in the spaces between sandbanks, They are powerful currents of water that take you away from the coast. These currents are created when waves approach the coast in a direct path and are unable to disperse.
According to Simon Boxall, a professor at the National Oceanography Center at the University of Southampton, water does not flow to either side, but rather accumulates and must find a way out, which it does through the presence of a rip current.
How they are formed
Rip currents have the potential to occur in any body of water that experiences wave activity, including even the Great Lakes. However, They are especially frequent on what are commonly called “classic” beaches., where the coast gradually slopes towards the ocean. According to experts, as waves approach the shore, they undergo refraction or curvature, and the steeper the slope of the beach, the more parallel the waves become. This, in turn, increases the likelihood of a rip current forming.
Known for their strength, rip currents can be found on beaches such as Boomerang Beach in Australia, Panama City Beach in Florida, and Lamu Island in Kenya. However, it is important to remember that these currents can occur on any beach with waves. So how can you identify a rip current?
How to identify it
Indicators of rip currents may manifest as areas of contrasting water color, interruptions in wave patterns, or the presence of a channel carrying foam or sandy water toward the open ocean.
According to Rob Brander, also known as “Dr. Rip” from the UNSW Beach Safety Research Group in Sydney, Australia, if you see a constant dark opening in the surf that continues to move towards the ocean, it is likely a rip current.
In your search for rip currents, carefully scan the shoreline for several minutes, either from a vantage point on the side or from an elevated position, such as a sand dune. According to Brander, identifying rip currents from shore is always more difficult, so it's essential to do more than just look.
Spotting rip currents can be a difficult task, even for the experienced, as they are often imperceptible and have the ability to change quickly. Chris Cousens, Water Safety Lead for the RNLI in Wales, shares his experience, saying: “Despite 30 years of surfing, I sometimes struggle to immediately identify rip currents when visiting unfamiliar places.
Precautions against rip currents
Due to people's tendency to avoid swimming in rough waters, incidents frequently arise when waves give the illusion of being calm. According to Erik Heden, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), most deaths occur during nice weekends. The weather is usually sunny and hot, creating an illusion of security and non-threatening conditions.
To ensure your safety, proper planning is essential. Take the time to check the rip current forecast specific to your location, and if a high risk is indicated, it is advisable to refrain from entering the water. As Heden suggests, perhaps opting for a day at the pool would be more appropriate.
Before you venture out into the water at the beach, take a moment to look at the safety flags and familiarize yourself with their meanings, as they may vary depending on your location in the world. Additionally, it is advisable to swim near a lifeguard for greater safety.
Heden strongly advises against swimming near jetties or docks due to the presence of waves. In case you find yourself caught in a rip current, here's what you should do.
When you're caught in a rip current, Your initial action should be to try to plant your feet firmly on the ocean floor. If you can make contact with the sea floor, quickly get up and proceed to walk back to shore. According to Cousens, it is often overlooked that individuals may actually be within their own depth when they experience the sensation of being pulled into deeper water by a rip current.
Heden advises against trying to swim directly back to shore if you can't stand up. The currents can be incredibly fast, even surpassing the speed of an Olympic swimmer, which makes it impossible to outrun them.
Keep your composure and seek help. According to Brander, allowing panic to take over can interfere with breathing and proper bodily functions, which could lead to drowning.
According to Boxall, let's imagine a rip current as a flowing river. Instead of trying to swim directly across it, as you would never do with a river, swim parallel to the shore. Continue in this direction until you have safely escaped the current and then return to the beach.
Brander advises caution when observing the direction of the current. It is important to note if the current enters at an angle, as swimming sideways can result in inadvertently swimming against the current.
To conserve energy and prevent exhaustion, it is recommended to adopt a floating position on your back, making sure your airways are clear. Cousens advises "floating to survive," emphasizing the importance of staying calm, resting, and recovering while in this position.
Help whoever needs it
In the event you encounter a person in distress, it is essential to quickly contact a lifeguard, provide them with a flotation device, and guide them to a safe swimming direction.
It is recommended not to enter the water in such situations. Heden explains that the instinctive response is to offer help, but the problem lies in the fact that when You try to rescue them, you end up being the one in danger while they remain unharmed.
The key to ensuring safety is having knowledge of the circumstances and the appropriate actions to take when they are encountered. According to Heden, a rip current should not be feared, but rather regarded with the greatest reverence.
