Rip current safety tips

We’re approaching the time of the year when we spend ours days at the beach to escape the summer heat. To ensure that you and your family remain safe while swimming, here are some safety tips about rip currents which everyone should know.

What are rip currents?

Rip currents are strong narrow currents of water which usually develop along beachfronts. They are strongest near the surface of the water and they move directly away from the shore, cutting through the lines of breaking waves.

They usually occur a few days leading up to the full moon, picking up on the day of the full moon and lasting for a few days after the new moon.

Rip current safety

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) have a number of tips on how to stay safe and calm when caught in a rip current, you should:

• make sure that you swim in areas where lifeguards are on duty,
• look at the sea before you go for a swim and identify "rivers of water" flowing out into the ocean and avoid swimming near them,
• remember that rip currents will not pull you under water,
• not try to fight the current,
• remain calm, and try to swim to the side to escape the flow of water, or let the current take you out to the back where the waves start and then to the shore
• if you can’t escape, float or tread water, raising your hand to signal for help, and
• wait for the lifeguards to help you.

If you witness someone caught in a rip current you can help by:

• calling 112 from a cell phone for help - this is the emergency number operated by cell phone networks they will then connect the call to the NSRI, or any other emergency service that you need,
• calling 107 from a public phone,
• calling 10177 for ambulance services.

Be sure to tell the operator where you are and exactly what the emergency is, letting them know that a person is caught in a rip current or that they are drowning. Don't hang up before they tell you that you can.

The NSRI recommends that you make an informed choice when going to the beach.

Remember:

1. If you want to swim in the sea choose a beach where lifeguards are on duty and swim between the flags on the beach. 
2. If you or your children are not strong swimmers please choose a beach that has a tidal pool and swim there. 
3. Parents should stay within arms length of children when they are swimming and watch them continuously.

More information

Visit the NSRI website to learn how to spot rip currents and for general safety tips at the beach.