At beaches along the U.S. coast, rip currents are the greatest danger to swimmers, leading to the most beach rescues annually. Recently, six people drowned in rip currents in Florida, including a couple from Pennsylvania and three young men from Alabama. Rip currents are narrow columns of water flowing rapidly away from the beach, and can carry swimmers far from shore. They are hard to detect because they often appear calm on the surface.
If caught in a rip current, swimmers are advised to remain calm and swim parallel to the shore to escape its grip. It is nearly impossible to fight the current directly, and trying to do so can tire a swimmer out. Warning systems, such as colored flags, are used to alert beachgoers of surf and rip current conditions. The National Weather Service also provides rip current risk predictions on its websites.
Attempting a rip current rescue can be dangerous, and officials advise against it. Instead, it is best to find a lifeguard, call 911, or advise the struggling swimmer to swim parallel to shore. Awareness and caution are key when it comes to rip currents to prevent tragedies like the recent drownings in Florida.
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