‘Three Rs’ campaign focuses on rips

‘‘Nobody is stronger than a rip’’ – that’s the message at the heart of a new campaign aiming to keep Kiwis safe at the beach this summer.

Launched on Boxing Day by TSB and Surf Life Saving NZ (SLSNZ), the ‘‘Three Rs’’ campaign aims to teach swimmers what to do if they find themselves caught in a rip, a narrow, powerful current of water which can quickly sweep a person out to sea.

In the last 10 years, 51 deaths have been linked to rips in New Zealand and close to 700 non-fatal rip rescues have occurred every year.

‘‘Many people think when they are caught in a rip that they’re strong enough to outswim it, but not even an Olympic swimmer can beat a rip,’’ Paul Dalton, SLSNZ chief, said.

The new campaign’s message is a simple one: Remember the three Rs – relax and float, raise your hand, ride the rip.

‘‘Rip currents will quickly carry you away from the shore and it will be frightening, but if you follow the three Rs you will be in the best possible position to get to safety,’’ Dalton said.

SLSNZ’s 5000 volunteers patrol beaches for more than 230,000 hours each year and 80 per cent of rescues they carry out involve swimmers caught in rip currents, which drag water out to sea at speed.

TSB entered a partnership with SLSNZ in 2016 to support the volunteers working between the flags at the country’s beaches.

‘‘We worked with SLSNZ to find out what the most important safety focus was for them and partnered with them to raise awareness on this crucial summer message,’’ chief executive Donna Cooper said.

‘‘This collaboration with SLSNZ is incredibly important to us, as it’s helping keep Kiwis safe in the water.’’