What should you never do in a rip current?

Trying to swim against a rip current will only use up your energy; energy you need to survive and escape the rip current. Do NOT try to swim directly into to shore. Swim along the shoreline until you escape the current’s pull. When free from the pull of the current, swim at an angle away from the current toward shore.

Should you let a rip current take you?

If you do get caught in a rip current, the best thing you can do is stay calm. It’s not going to pull you underwater, it’s just going to pull you away from shore. Always let a lifeguard make a rip current rescue, because often, the people that try to make rescues themselves end up being the ones who drown.

How far can a rip current take you out?

Instead, try to work out which direction the rip current is taking you and swim slowly, but steadily, across the rip to one side and aim for areas of whitewater. Rip currents are generally no wider than about 15 m (16.4 yards), so you only need to swim a short distance to try and get out of the current.

What should you do if someone else is caught in a rip current?

If possible, throw the rip current victim something that floats. Never enter the water without a flotation device. Rip currents do not pull people under the water—they pull people away from shore.

Do surfers like rip currents?

Rip tides in reality are rip currents (there is no such thing as a rip tide), and yes they are an experienced surfers friend. Smart surfers use rip currents to get quickly to the waves with the least amount of expended energy paddling.

Can rip currents pull you under?

Myth: Rip currents pull you under water. Rip currents are surface currents, not undertows. An undertow is a short-lived, sub-surface surge of water associated with wave action. It can drag you down, but it’s not truly treacherous because you won’t be held under for long.

Are rip currents close to shore?

Rip currents usually develop close to the shoreline in very shallow water around a metre deep – just where beach bathers are usually found. For rip currents to form, there must be areas close to the beach where some waves break and other areas where they do not.

What are three indications that a rip current is present?

Signs that a rip current may be present. A break in the incoming wave pattern. A channel of churning, choppy water.