Water Safety

Rip-Current Tips

Rip currents, commonly called rip tides, affect Florida's coasts, and pose a life threatening situation to the unsuspecting beach goer. A rip current is a strong surface current flowing past the surf zone that can pull even strong swimmers into deeper water. Most deaths occur when people caught in the current try to swim toward the shore against the current; they become totally exhausted and drown. Many times would-be-rescuers are also caught and drowned. 

Rip Currents are normally 10 to 30 yards wide, and the best escape from them, especially for the weak or non-swimmer, is to wade or swim parallel to the beach. The rip current weakens rapidly a short distance seaward of the sandbar that creates them. Another means of escape is to float with the current beyond the breakers, then swim shoreward at an angle away from the current. 

A person can recognize a rip current in the surf zone by a discoloration of the water that extends in a band offshore, or a foam or seaweed streak extending seaward from the breakers. Beach patrol personnel, who can easily see these characteristics from their elevated towers, post warnings on guarded beaches when they are observed. 

Rip currents can occur at any time of the year, but the majority of deaths occur from March to August when a large number of bathers and favorable wind conditions coincide. Many victims are tourists unfamiliar with surf conditions. However, local residents are also at risk. The old and the young and the non-swimmer are particularly susceptible. 

Water Safety Tips

  • Never leave young children in a swimming pool area or bath tub without supervision. A supervising adult should not read, talk on the phone, leave to answer the door, cook or participate in any other distracting activity.
  • Never swim alone. Always swim with a buddy.
  • Swim in areas supervised by a lifeguard.
  • Never rely on air-filled swimming aids such as water wings in place of Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices (life jackets) or life preservers for children or any non-swimmer.
  • Enter the water feet first. Protect your head, neck and spine. Never dive headfirst into any water where the bottom is not visible or that it is clear the area is free of obstacles.
  • Do not mix alcohol with swimming or boating.
  • Learn CPR and first aid. And make sure that anyone who baby sits your children knows CPR and first aid as well.
  • Establish water safety rules for your family based on each person's swimming abilities.
  • Watch for rip currents or dangerous waves at the beach.
  • If caught in a rip current, don't fight it. Swim parallel to the shore until the pull stops and then swim back in to shore. Don't try to swim against the current.