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Fifty Things I Wish I Knew BEFORE I Started Surfing! #18- Rip Currents

What I Would Do If I Got Caught In A Rip Current


Surfing is an amazing sport that can bring you joy and excitement but can also be dangerous if you are not careful. One of the surfers' most common threats is getting caught in a rip current. A rip current is a strong, narrow stream of water that flows away from the shore, sometimes at speeds of up to 8 feet per second. It can drag you to the open ocean, where you can face bigger waves, sharks, or exhaustion. According to the National Ocean Service, rip currents are the leading cause of rescues by lifeguards at beaches in the U.S., and they are estimated to kill 100 people every year.


So how can you avoid and escape a rip current when surfing? Here are some tips that can save your life:

- Learn how to identify a rip current. A rip current can be hard to spot, but some signs can help you recognize it. Look for deeper and/or darker water, fewer breaking waves, a rippled surface surrounded by smooth waters, anything floating out to sea or foamy, discolored, sandy water flowing out beyond the waves, or a gap in the sandbar or a break in the reef. These are indicators that there is a channel of water that is flowing faster than the surrounding water, forming the rip current.

-First- I'd try not to panic if I got caught in a rip current. The worst thing I could do is panic and try to swim against the current. This will only tire me out and make it harder for me to escape. Instead, I'd try to stay calm and conserve my energy. Remember that a rip current only moves me horizontally, not vertically. If I use my arms and lung filling, the two can help me float on the water's surface, or I could flip over on my back and try to float. But I already know that if I kick my feet a lot, I will get exhausted within minutes.

- If I could stay calm and do the breaststroke, I could swim parallel to the shore until I am out of the current. The best way to escape a rip current is to swim sideways along the shore until I feel the current weaken or stop. Then I could swim back to the shore at an angle. If the current is too fast, I would let it carry me out to sea until it weakens or stops, then swim back to the shore diagonally. The key is to swim across the current, not against it.

- I would also wave my arms and shout for help. If I cannot swim out of the rip current or am too tired or injured, I should signal for help as soon as possible. I'd wave my arms above my head and shout for attention. I'd also catch the eye of a lifeguard, a surfer, or anyone on the shore who could help me.


Don't be ashamed or afraid to ask for help. It could save your life!















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