How to Survive a Rip Current

A Pennsylvania couple drowned in a rip current while vacationing in Florida this week, leaving their six children orphans.

Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishard, 48, were swimming in the surf on Hutchinson Island when they, along with two of their teenage children, were swept out to sea by a rip current, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. The teens were able to escape to shore.

The tragedy happened after the National Weather Service issued a warning for swimmers that dangerous rip currents were expected near Walton, Bay, Gulf, and Franklin County beaches.

What Is a Rip Current?

Rip currents, which flow out toward the ocean, can quickly pull swimmers away from the shore. They typically form at breaks in sandbars and near structures like piers and jetties.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), rip currents can travel at speeds of up to eight feet per second, faster than an Olympic swimmer.

Strong weather events, such as hurricanes, create the most dangerous rip currents. As hurricanes generate powerful waves, they shape the ocean floor, which can lead to rip currents even hundreds of miles from the storm itself.

In 2008, Hurricane Bertha created rip currents that killed three people in New Jersey — even though the storm was more than 1,000 miles from shore.

Statistics from the National Weather Service (NWS) indicate that lifeguards in the U.S. rescue approximately 30,000 swimmers from rip currents each year. Around 100 people still drown in rip currents annually across the country.

How to Survive a Rip Current

To make it out of a rip current, experts say the first rule is simple: stay calm. Many people panic and start swimming as fast as they can, but according to NOAA, it is better not to swim against the current — just as drivers learn not to steer against a fishtail.

“A rip current is not going to pull you underwater, it’s just going to pull you away from shore,” said Dr. Greg Dusek, a NOAA oceanographer.

Instead of fighting the current, NOAA advises swimmers to flip onto their back and float to conserve energy. Then, swim parallel to the shore until out of the current’s pull. Rip currents are generally less than 80 feet wide, so swimming a short distance parallel to the shore can help escape the current.

Once free, swim at an angle back to shore.

Identifying rip currents before entering the water is crucial. According to the U.S. Lifesaving Association, signs of a rip current include a difference in water color, a line of foam or debris moving seaward, or a gap of darker, calm-looking water between breaking waves.

“They’re often difficult to see, but you can spot them in areas where waves aren’t breaking, or where there’s foam, seaweed, or discolored water being pulled offshore,” Dusek said.

Beachgoers should also check local beach conditions and swim near lifeguards whenever possible.