Jaws, released in theaters way back in 1975, forever cemented a fear of shark attacks in our minds. Innocent porpoises diving and out of waves can clear the water instantly when one person screams, “Shark!” No one questions it — see a fin and panic ensues.
Sharks, though, are hardly the most dangerous thing in our oceans. In fact, National Geographic reports that the United States records about 16 shark attacks per year resulting in one death every two years. Though millions of people flock to U.S. beaches each year, the risk of attack or death is negligible.
If Jaws isn’t a big danger, what is? The answer is rip currents. According to NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), approximately 50,000 people are rescued from rip currents by life guards in the United States each year. Fifty THOUSAND! Sadly, about 100 people die each year from getting caught in rip currents, mostly at beaches without life guards. Even more heart-breaking is that these deaths are easily avoided.
How do rip currents work?
Rip currents are present on just about every beach in the world every day. When waves break, most of the water rushes in toward the beach — that’s how we ride the waves. Rip currents, though, pull back out toward the ocean at speeds of up to eight feet per second, much faster than anyone can swim. If you’ve been in the ocean, you have felt them pulling at your feet. The higher the waves, the faster the currents tend to be. Thus, the more dangerous they are.
Why do people drown in rip currents?
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| Rip current safety |
When caught in a rip current, many people panic. Not expecting to be pulled away from the beach, they frantically swim to get back to shore. The problem is that the rip current pulls them away faster than they can swim against it. That feeling of being swept out to sea increases the panic. Panic too much and drown from the fatigue of fighting the current and swallowing water. All of it is completely avoidable!
What should I do instead of panic?
Rather than panic and fight the current, remain calm. How? Make sure every member in your group understands what a rip current is — simply a current pulling away from the beach for a few minutes. Then make sure that everyone understands how to respond if caught in a rip current. You can’t swim toward shore against the current! Instead, swim parallel to shore to break free of the current. In a particularly strong current or if you can’t break free for another reason, stay calm and ride it out. Once you get beyond the outward push of the current you can swim out and around the current back to shore. (See the diagram above or click here for more information.)
Other helpful tips
- Never swim alone.
- Do not swim while consuming alcohol — intoxication decreases awareness and leads to many ocean related deaths each year.
- Obey life guard instructions. If they say it’s too dangerous to swim, stay out of the water. They know what they’re talking about!
- Review ocean safety rules every time you go to the beach.
- Rest, rehydrate and refuel often. You use more energy playing in the ocean than you might realize. Take breaks to rehydrate and refuel so that you have the energy to swim to shore if you ever do get “taken for a ride” on a rip current.
- If you can’t swim out of the rip current, tread water, wave your arms and yell for help — without panicking!
Great article Karen. In my opinion rip currents aren't talked about much until you hear of a fatality. I got too far away one time from the shore. I was probably about twelve. I wasn't swimming but I was trying to walk back in and the sand just kept disappearing under my feet and it seemed like I wasn't getting anywhere. It was a scary moment and I sure didn't tell my parents about it but I did shy away from getting out there and jumping over the waves.
By the way I saw jaws from the backseat of a volkswagon. My parents were at a drive in movie and I was supposed to be sleep. They found I hadn't been sleep when I had nightmares 😉 I don't like to watch any of the Jaws movies to this day.
I've had that sand slipping feeling before too. I didn't know that rip currents were the culprit. They're a natural part of oceanic function, but wow! When they get strong, it's scary stuff. I've never seen Jaws. I can imagine enough on my own 😀
Great tips, Karen! We head to the beach every fall and I will definitely take this advice with us!
This is such an incredibly important message for anyone who gets into the ocean. I used to take 100s of kids to the beaches for a marine biology camp I worked with and this was the first lesson. If you feel a pull, swim alongside the shore. I will be pinning this and posting it as well. THANK YOU!
This is such an incredibly important message for anyone who gets into the ocean. I used to take 100s of kids to the beaches for a marine biology camp I worked with and this was the first lesson. If you feel a pull, swim alongside the shore. I will be pinning this and posting it as well. THANK YOU!
My daughter would be thrilled to read this as she truly believes sharks are not the villains the media makes them out to be. 🙂 Rip tides are a genuine problem and one which is not talked about nearly enough!
Right after we moved to California, my parents took us to Goat Rock. It's where the Russian River empties into the Pacific. We'd never been to the beach before, only the lake where our grandparents lived. One of my sisters walked to the water and was promptly carried off by the rip current. My dad was able to get her back, but it's not something I've ever forgotten. Rip currents are silent, swift killers and they can take you before you've realized it.
Sounds like rip currents are the secret killers. I live in WA State. Water here is cold, so not too many swimmers. Tourists do walk out on the jettys and forget that one big wave can take them out to sea or drown them.
I've also felt the slipping samd but did not know it was the rip currents.
Stopping by from Thriving at Home Thursday :O)
Thank you for sharing. I passed this along all OVER the place!
Living near the Ocean as I do I am always warning out of town visitors about the rip tides. It is so dangerous and so many people are unaware of this hidden danger. Thank you for sharing this.
Thanks for writing about this. I noticed the currents when we were in Maine recently. STRONG.
Leigh
Nice post. My daughter loves swimming so much and these tips would be of great help to her.