How to spot a rip current.
Rip Current Survival.
Beach Safety, how to spot a rip current, and what to do in the event of being caught in a rip current.
On days when the surf is big, there is a good chance that there will be a rip or current ready to sweep swimmers out to sea. On some days we may assist 3 or 4 swimmers or surfers who get caught in these rip currents. Not knowing how to react, they become scared, and begin to panic. Kids whose parents may not be watching them and have no idea how close they have come to a potential drowning. Adults, persons drinking alcohol and swimming etc. Panic is the worst thing to do. There is no force pulling you under, but it is the act of panic that may lead to tragedy. Have a look at the above videos, produced by Life Saving Australia. Make beach safety a priority.
If you are caught in a rip, try not to panic, it is imperative to stay cool and use your head. Go with the current, don’t fight it. Swim perpendicular to the direction the current is pulling you, and try to swim towards the waves that will help to push you back to shore.
Don’t be shy, raise your hand for assistance, or if there is a surfer in the water, ask for their assistance too.
And if you try and rescue someone who is caught in a rip, definitely take something that floats, ie a surfboard, a life ring etc, and if you have fins, then all the better. It’s not uncommon for the rescuer, without any flotation device, to become the victim. It’s virtually impossible to assist someone in a rough sea with out any flotation device.
Be safe, use your head, and don’t panic. Check the weather. If the conditions look too big for your ability, stay on shore. Don’t swim at beaches where there are no life guards. As an added precaution, swim with fins, ie Dafin, which will give you extra propulsion and can make the difference in case of an emergency.
Rules of Surfing
Dropping in? Snaking? Paddling around the surf zone. Here are the rules, stick to them and you will be fine, start dropping in and snaking, and destroy the good times’ vibe. Image kindly taken at Busselton, Western Australia. And for those who are on a long board, please share the waves. Just because you are on a wave catching machine, don’t become a wave hog. A little bit of power is a dangerous thing!