RIP CURRENT DANGER

by J. Scott Davis

"From the Eyes of an Experienced Surf Beach Lifeguard"

I am a former ocean beach lifeguard and crew chief, as well as, a veteran United States Navy Surface Rescue Swimmer.

When someone qualifies for and takes on the responsibility of serving as a surf beach lifeguard, they should understand that typically 80% of the time this profession is put into lifesaving action is to rescue victims from rip currents.

A rip current is a dangerous area of water that flows offshore back to sea and is oftentimes 20 to 50 yards in width (of course each varying in strength and size). The rips flow perpindicular from the shore in a narrow river like current that vary in strength sometimes rising to very hazardous levels. A swimmer can eventually fatigue and drown in attempting to swim back to the beach against this flow. A rip current is especially a danger to weak and inexperienced swimmers. In extreme cases, the speed of a particular rip can be so strong as to overpower even an Olympic level swimmer in the event that this prized athlete is trying to swim directly into the current in an attempt to return safely to shore. Aside from ocean beaches, rips can also be found at large bodies of water with breaking waves such as the Great Lakes.

To return to safety, a swimmer should swim out of the rip and then return to shore, as opposed to attempting to fight the current directly. In other words, they should swim approximately parallel to the beach to get themselves free from the rip and then into shore. If unable to return to the beach due the the rip's strength, one should not panic as to save energy. They should remain calm better enabling them to make clear decisions. The swimmer should then tread water and float until the area of the rip current subsides or when they are rescued. The victim could also holler for help and wave their arms to attract attention to their deadly situation.

A lifeguard must constantly be on the lookout for rips forming in his/her assigned area and signal swimmers out of danger. If a victim becomes overpowered by the rip and requires assistance, the lifeguard would rescue the victim and utilize the method discussed above in pulling the victim parallel to the beach to become free of the rip and then onwards into shore and safety. While the lifeguard's priority is "better safe than sorry," if a swimmer is caught in a rip that lacks in severity, the guard could direct them to swim out of this rip. Constant judgement is required as to when to perform the rescue keeping in mind that once a guard is involved in a surf rescue, that their assigned area is not being covered and/or neighboring lifeguards are forced to cover more area (as they cover the guard performing the rescue).

Rip currents are formed in various ways primarily from the constant circulation of breaking waves near the shore that typically cause: (A) a shift in the sand on the ocean floor , (B) low areas or breaks in a sandbar at the nearshore ocean bed, (C) low spots or breaks in the surf, (D) and several other ways which include forming alongside jetties and piers.

To identify a rip current, lifeguards, swimmers and surfers should look for the churning, choppy area of water near the shore that is different in color due to the swirling sand stirred up from the ocean floor. The rip area can also be accompanied by foam, seaweed and debris.

It can also be mentioned that rip currents have usages that the rescuing lifeguard can benefit from. For example, they may enter the rip utilizing the outward flow to move quicker towards the victim (this procedure requiring sound judgement and timing).

It is very risky to swim when a lifeguard is not present!

"Rip Current Danger" by J. Scott Davis

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