If caught in a rip current: Stay Calm, Call or signal for help, and Swim parallel/sideways to shore to get out of the rip then swim to shore.
Rip currents, strong channelled water currents flowing off shore, account for 84% of ocean rescues. They are prevalent along the beaches of most oceans. In the United States, the predominant cause for rescues and drowning are rip currents.
United States lifeguards perform a vital role in public safety on the beach and in the ocean. They rescue thousands of people each year along U.S. beaches due to rip currents. It’s best to swim in areas where a lifeguard is on duty. Drownings at beaches are 5 times less likely when a lifeguard is present (USLA.org statistics).
One thing many people don’t realize is that rip currents may be present on days when the water appears calm. In general they are most prevalent as tides recede, pulling the rushing waters away from the shoreline.
We all know that safety and swimming skills are important for everyone to learn to prevent drownings. It bears repeating that it’s best not to panic if you ever find yourself caught in a rip current. It is best not fight it. Instead swim parallel or sideways to the shore (see above image). Once you’ve successfully escaped the rip current, you can then swim to shore.
Remember if caught in a rip current: Stay Calm, Call for help, Swim sideways to shore
Bonus fact: Although often used to mean the same thing, “rip currents” and “rip tides” are not the same thing. Rip currents are a volume of water moving from one location to the other. Rip tides on the other hand, are what happens at certain times of year in regards to the moon and sun’s fluctuating gravitational pull.