Rip Currents Are Dangerous; Here's How to Spot Them and Survive If You're Caught In One

A rip current is a strong but narrow current that flows away from the beach. Rip currents can form at any beach with breaking waves, including the Great Lakes. The speed of a rip current can exceed 6 miles per hour - faster than an Olympic swimmer - and can extend the length of a football field off the coast.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), about 100 fatalities a year across the nation are blamed on rip currents.

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From 1999-2013, the state with the highest number of fatalities from rip currents was Florida with 297, far ahead of California and North Carolina with 63 and 62 fatalities, respectively, during that same period.

There are over 30,000 rescues per year in the United States from rip currrents. 

Rip currents can be hazardous in waves that are only modest, as low as 2 or 3 feet high, conditions that make the surf look tempting to wade into. 

Significant rip currents are more likely to occur with a strong onshore wind.

Sometimes you can spot a rip current because it can look darker than surrounding waters. They are areas where waves do not break, with breaking waves on either side. You can sometimes see water, or seaweed, moving away from the beach.

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Rip Current Safety

If you are headed to the beach, always be aware of current weather conditions and the rip current threat. There are color-coded flags placed on many beaches each day to communicate the current threat.

A green flag (low risk) indicates that strong rip currents are not likely. A yellow flag (moderate risk) means that there is a good chance for strong rip currents and a red flag (high risk) signals that strong rip currents are expected.

If you are caught in a rip current, here are some safety tips (from NOAA):

• Remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
• Never fight against the current.
• Think of it as a treadmill that can't be turned off, which you need to step to the side of.
• Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline.
• If you are unable to swim out of a rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim toward shore.
• If you are still unable to reach the shore, draw attention to yourself by waving your arm and yelling for help.

If you see someone in trouble, get help from a lifeguard and throw the victim something that floats. Many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current.