How to Stay Safe in a Rip Current from Someone Who’s Been There (twice)

By the age of 12, I had experienced being caught in rip currents on two different occasions. Both incidents occurred in the presence of others, in front of a lifeguard stand, and under a yellow flag (signaling moderately rough currents).

Despite my swimming skill and prior knowledge of what to do in this situation, when faced with the reality of a rip current, all my intuition went straight out the window, and I was overcome with anxiety and panic. It was only through the swift intervention of the lifeguards that I escaped the rip tide and was brought to safety.

This experience was also a strong reminder of why it is essential to never swim alone. In my case, I was with my sister and friends. When I was pulled out by the current, they were able to race out of the water and alert the lifeguards. Without these swimming buddies, I might have gone unnoticed to lifeguards who are charged with watching dozens of swimmers. 

The ocean is an unpredictable force, and even the strongest of swimmers can find themselves struggling to contend with its currents.

To help you enjoy the ocean safely, here are 5 tips to help if you’re caught in a rip current:

• If you are caught in a rip current, try not to panic.
• Signal to those on shore that you need assistance.
• Swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current.
• Once you are free, turn and swim toward shore.
• If you can't swim to the shore, float or tread water until you are free of the rip current and then head toward shore.

Here is a great video from the Red Cross that makes it easy to understand.

Have a safe and fun summer.