If your summer vacation plans involve your family heading to the beach, take the next 10 minutes to read over our riptide safety tips. Having this knowledge could save your or your child’s life.
Once you understand rip tides, how they work, and how to handle them, have a conversation with your child about what to do if they are ever swept up in one. The best way to protect them is to prepare them. Anyone, even a strong swimmer, can get caught in a rip tide at a beach they are familiar with.
What Is a Rip Tide?
A rip tide, also known as a rip current, is a specific type of current that is caused by the tide pulling water through an inlet along a barrier beach. It is characterized by strong, localized, and narrow currents of water that pull people away from shore. The speeds of these currents vary from 1 to 2 feet per second up to 8 feet per second.
Rip tides normally form near breaks in sandbars. They can also be near structures like jetties or piers. This is crucial to know because these are areas that families, in particular, are likely to gravitate toward while at the beach. Rip currents are often found on surf beaches and even Great Lake beaches.
Rip tides are especially scary for parents because the speeds can vary from moment to moment. At one point, the current may not seem dangerous, and then an increase in speed will jeopardize their child’s safety. Many people do not know the water isn’t safe to swim in until they are pulled out to sea.
How Do I Know a Rip Tide Is Present?
You’re at the beach. Your children are playing in the sand. People are swimming. You worry that a rip current could be present without you even realizing it. How do you know when it’s safe for your children to go into the water and when to avoid it?
Here are some tell-tale signs that a rip current may be present.
- A narrow gap of darker, seemingly calmer water between areas of breaking waves and whitewater
- A channel of churning and choppy water
- A difference in water color
- A line of foam, seaweed, or debris moving seaward
Top Rip Tide Safety Tips
Learn how to swim
Get your kids enrolled in swim lessons before you ever go to the beach. A floatation device can help your child stay above the water if they get pulled out to sea, but it won’t help them get back to shore. Swimming is an essential skill, and they’ll be grateful that you made sure they learned when they were little (even if they don’t love the lessons now).
Additionally, if you don’t know how to swim yourself, now is the time to learn. There is no shame in not knowing how to swim. This is an indispensable and lifesaving skill that everyone must have before they head to the beach or pool.
Adults or parents will send their kids to swim lessons thinking that it’s “too late” for them to learn. It’s not! Get in there and show your kid how it’s done.
Always swim with a buddy
Rip tides don’t discriminate. Strong swimmers are just as likely to get pulled out, and it can be a struggle to navigate this situation on your own. Don’t allow your child to go out into the ocean alone and take that advice yourself. Even if you’re just heading for a quick dip, make sure others know where you’re going and how long you intend to be in the water.
Don’t go out if in doubt
If you think you see a rip tide occurring from the beach, skip swimming for the day. The ocean is a powerful body of water, and while you may think you can handle it, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Rip tides are a major cause of accidental drowning on beaches worldwide. Additionally, people have died trying to save others from rip currents, so don’t be afraid to play it safe!
Swim near a lifeguard
If you’re nervous about rip tides this summer, always swim near the lifeguard stand. This way, it will be easy to get the attention of an experienced swimmer who is knowledgeable about rip currents if there’s an issue. They will be prepared to come to your aid or your child’s aid if there is a rip tide that pulls you out to sea.
Try to relax
Rip currents sound terrifying, but the good news is that they don’t pull you under the water. They pull you away from shore. Though this isn’t ideal, if you can swim, you’ll be able to navigate the situation long enough to get help. Don’t panic and remember what you know about rip tides. The next two sections will help you consider how you can get yourself out of this tricky situation. The first step is staying calm.
Swim parallel to the beach
One possible way to escape a rip current is to swim out of the current. You do this by swimming parallel to the beach — NOT toward the shore. This is a big mistake that most people make. They see themselves moving further and further from the beach and assume they should swim back as fast as they can. However, this will only cause you to become exhausted.
Stay as calm as possible and swim with the current parallel to the shore. This can allow you to escape the rip tide altogether and then move toward the shore once you’re out of it completely.
Draw attention to yourself
If you’re not able to swim parallel to the beach or find which way the current is moving, don’t worry. Your best chance is to draw attention to yourself. Locate the buddy you’re swimming with or the lifeguard at their stand. Yell out to them or wave for assistance. Do anything that will help draw attention to your situation without exhausting yourself too drastically. If you find that you’re becoming tired while swimming or treading water, remember that floating on your back is always a good option. This will allow your body to rest.
What to Do If You See Someone Struggling
If you’re on the beach this summer and you see another person struggling, be careful! People have died trying to rescue rip tide victims. Here are some safety steps you can take to rescue either adults or children who have fallen into this predicament without jeopardizing your safety.
Seek help from a lifeguard
An on-duty lifeguard is one of your best resources at the beach. They are trained to assist with this situation, and they will be able to rescue a swimmer caught in this situation.
Call 911
If there is no lifeguard, dial 911 to get emergency services to the scene. Then, you can direct the victim to swim parallel to the shoreline to escape the tide.
Throw the victim a floatation device
To prevent overtiredness, throw the rip tide victim a floatation device from the beach. This can allow them to remain afloat until emergency personnel arrive to help further.
Enter with a flotation device
If you must enter the water, make sure you always have a floatation device with you. You may think this is unnecessary if you are a strong swimmer, but you never want to jeopardize your safety to save someone else.
Final Thoughts
Are you looking for additional water safety tips this summer before heading to the beach or pool? Jacksonville Pediatric Care Centers provide care. Dr. Benitez and his team of Jacksonville pediatricians work around the clock to provide exceptional pediatric care, including child water safety.
