A rip current can be dangerous, but it doesn’t have to be. Image: ABC News//Screenshot
If you surf, (which you likely do if you’re reading this website) you’re aware of rip currents. They can be dangerous if you don’t know how to get out of one, and lifeguards pull thousands of people out of them each year. There’s a tried, tested, and true way that nearly every surfer or ocean-goer is aware of to escape a rip current, but according to Good Morning America, experts are now saying that way is not always the best way.
According to NOAA, rip currents can move faster than an Olympic swimmer. “Panicked swimmers often try to counter a rip current by swimming straight back to shore — putting themselves at risk of drowning because of fatigue,” NOAA writes. “If caught in a rip current, don’t fight it! Swim parallel to the shore and swim back to land at an angle.” That, of course, is the tried, tested, and true way, but there’s a bit of added advice to go along with it these days.
Surfers, of course, often use them to get out to the lineup without breaking a sweat, but when your leash breaks and you’re stuck in a strong one, it can feel pretty scary even to the most experienced of swimmers. When the wind is howling and there’s a long shore current, things can change a bit, too. If you’ve been taught to swim parallel to the beach when you find yourself in a rip and you happen to be swimming into the wind, you’ll likely end up just staying in the rip and panicking even more when you realize that “parallel with the shore” advice isn’t working. Downwind and parallel with the beach is the best bet in most cases if you’re confident in your swimming ability, but when all else fails, just… float.
“Human instinct wants you to fight for your life,” ABC News‘ Victor Oquendo explained in the video you see here. “But experts say it’s that panic, exerting too much energy trying swim against the current that leads to death.”
Even when you’re swimming parallel with the shore, like we’ve long been told, you might run into some issues. Now, NOAA says to simply do less if you find yourself tiring out as you’re swimming along the shoreline in an attempt to escape a rip.
“Let that current take you out and then flip and float,” Oquendo said. “Legs up, back of the head against the water, and using only gentle movements. This will relax you, help you conserve energy, and let you stay above water longer. It will also give you a beat to let you determine which way the current is flowing. If you can, swim perpendicular to that direction, like swimming to the side of a river. When you no longer feel the pull, swim at an angle back to shore.”
If all of that fails, it’s important to not let your pride kill you. If you’re too tired to continue, just flip and float again, waving your hands and yelling for help. Do not go gently into that good night. Scream for help if you need it.
