From Memorial Day to Labor Day Ocean Rescue lifeguards will be on duty guarding the shore of Flagler Beach seven days per week. The lifeguard’s job is all about safety. This includes not just performing rescues but also educating the public about potential hazards of the ocean. Every day begins with a morning drill. Some days, it may be a beach run combined with a long ocean swim. Other days it may involve simulated rescues in the rough surf. Whatever the particular activity, the lifeguards are always working to improve their lifeguarding skills to be better able prevent and respond to any emergency. All this is done before the actual work day begins.
Rip Currents
Of all the hazards that the lifeguards must prepare for, the most dangerous and most common is an area in the water commonly called a rip current. Over 100 drownings due to rip currents occur every year in the United States and more than 80% of water rescues on surf beaches are due to rip currents. What makes this statistic even more disturbing is that rip current drownings are 100% preventable.
A rip current is nothing more than the flow of the ocean water as a result of waves washing up the beach and flowing back into the ocean. In certain areas where there is a break in a sandbar underneath the surface, the outgoing water will have the tendency to travel the least path of resistance and flow back through the deeper area of water. As a result, a strong horizontal rip current is formed. Rip currents do not pull people under the water–-they pull people away from shore. Drowning deaths occur when people pulled offshore are unable to keep themselves afloat and swim to shore. This may be due to any combination of fear, panic, exhaustion, or lack of swimming skills. Rip currents are particularly dangerous for weak or non-swimmers. Rip current speeds are typically 1-2 feet per second. However, speeds as high as 8 feet per second have been measured–this is faster than an Olympic swimmer can sprint! Thus, rip currents can sweep even the strongest swimmer out to sea.
But how are rip current drownings preventable? The best way is through education. Learn how to identify a rip current and be sure to avoid them. Although it may not be possible to see what is going on underneath the water, rip currents can be identified from the surface. Look at the line of waves breaking as they move towards the beach. In the areas where rip currents are present, the waves will break a little sooner and cause an uneven break in the line of waves. Rip currents will also produce more turbulent white water as the outgoing flow opposes the incoming waves. If there is any doubt, don’t go out!
Here are some other tips to keep safe from rip currents:
- Never swim alone.
- Be cautious at all times, especially when swimming at unguarded beaches. If in doubt, don’t go out!
- Whenever possible, swim at a lifeguard protected beach.
- Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards.
- If caught in a rip current, remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
- Don’t fight the current. Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim 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: face the shore, wave your arms, and yell for help.
- If you see someone in trouble, get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1. Throw the rip current victim something that floats and yell instructions on how to escape. Remember, many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current.
It is always important to remember not to panic. A rip current will eventually stop flowing as it enters deeper water. Avoiding the natural instinct to try to make it to shore by swimming against the current will help to conserve energy. Most times one only has to swim a short distance parallel to the shore to escape the pull of the rip current and then swim back to shore.
Swimming in the ocean is a fun activity and with a little knowledge and common sense, the threat of rip currents can be minimized. By learning more about rip currents and obeying a few simple rules everyone can be safe and have a great time on the beach.
