What to do if caught in a rip current
Avoid danger by swimming between lifeguards’ flags
Often rip currents move slowly enough to barely be detected. But given the right circumstances of waves and beach profile, they can develop into currents moving at speeds of up to 2m per second – faster than any of us can swim.
Ranging in width from just a few to 100m, they pull to just behind where the waves form and then lose their power.
A rip current is not the same as a rip tide which is formed as the tide ebbs and flows through a narrow opening such as an estuary.
The Knysna Heads are a great example of where you will find extremely dangerous rip tides.
Rip currents claim the lives of many people each year.
How to spot rip currents and what to do when caught in one:
Rip currents are able to develop where there are breaking waves.
Bigger waves produce stronger currents and these “rivers” of current are produced by water moving from the beach back out to sea.
They happen all the time at many beaches and are the biggest danger that swimmers face in the water.
As with all risks, avoiding rip currents altogether is the safest strategy. To do this, swim at a beach where there are lifeguards, between their flags.
Though an untrained eye may struggle to see rip currents, stronger rip currents give telltale signs.
With patience and careful observation it is not hard to see that
water in a channel or “river” between breaking waves is moving away from the beach.
The current may not flow straight out from the beach. It may flow at an angle or have a bend or two in it before it gets to the backline where waves are forming
This is what you should look out for: ● Water through a surf zone that is a different colour to the surrounding
water. A change in the incoming pattern of waves (often the waves are not breaking in a rip channel).
● Seaweed, sand ‘clouds’ or debris moving out to the backline where waves are forming through the surf zone.
● Turbulent or choppy water in the surf zone in a channel or river-like shape flowing away from the beach.
The best thing to do is to swim only
where lifeguards are on duty, and if they are not on duty, do not swim.
If you are caught in a rip current, the most important thing to remember is: Do not panic. Stay calm.
You are not going to win a fight with the ocean. Swim slowly and conservatively out of the current or relax and let it carry you out past the breakers until it slacks.
Take note from looking at the beach of the direction the current is pulling you, think of it like a river and remember to get out of a river you would swim to the river bank.
This means you should swim at 90° to the direction you are being pulled and then use the waves to help you get back to the beach.
A rip current will not pull you under the water. As long as you can float you will be safe until you can escape the current by swimming to the side (out of it) and then back to the beach.
Be sure to maintain a slow and relaxed pace until you reach the shore or assistance arrives. If you are swimming at a beach where lifeguards are on duty, they will be able to help you. Raise your arm and wave for help.
If you see someone in a rip current: Do not go in to help unless you are trained and have emergency flotation such as the NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy or a surfboard.
If you are not trained in water rescue, throw something that floats into the rip current which will carry it out to the person in difficulty.
At some beaches this will not work and the only option is to call for help.
The Pink Rescue Buoy signs have emergency numbers for the closest NSRI station on them or simply Google “Sea Rescue” which will give you the closest Sea Rescue Station’s emergency number.