Did you know the average speeds of rip currents are 1 to 2 feet per second, but they have been measured moving as fast as 8 feet per second - faster than an Olympic swimmer!
Some clues that a rip current may be present:
• A channel of churning, choppy water
• A difference in water color
• A line of foam, seaweed, or debris moving seaward
• A break in the incoming wave pattern
If you are caught in a rip current:
• Stay calm and don’t fight the current.
• Escape the current by swimming in a direction following the shoreline. When free of the current, swim at an angle away from the current and toward shore.
• If you are unable to escape by swimming, float or tread water. When the current weakens, swim at an angle away from the current toward the shore.
• If at any time you feel you will be unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself: face the shore, yell and wave for help.