How to Survive a Rip Tide

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Expert guidance on how to escape rip currents
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The term “rip tide” is usually used to describe rip currents, which are long, narrow bands of water that can pull swimmers away from the shore. The best way out of a rip current is to swim parallel to the shore. If you can’t do that, float to the end of the current and then swim parallel. In either case, stay calm and avoid swimming directly against the current. Even if you have to float, you won’t go far—rip currents are strong but they don’t tend to be very long. In this article, we’ll show you how to survive rip tides, (and how to spot and avoid them in the first place).

How to Get Out of a Rip Tide

Stay calm. If you can swim, slowly swim parallel to the shore to get out of the rip current. Then, swim diagonally to the shore. If you can’t swim out, that’s okay. Just float and collect your energy. When the rip tide lets you out (and it will), swim parallel to the shore and then make your way back.

Section 1 of 3:

What to Do in a Rip Tide

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  1. Remain calm and don't panic. It's scary to be caught in a rip current, but you can get out of it. Keeping your cool can help you conserve energy and think clearly. [1]

    Tips for Staying Calm

    Try to control your breathing. Keep your head above the water and take slow, deep breaths.

    Think positive, calming thoughts. Tell yourself “Don’t panic. You can make it out of this rip current. Don’t fight it, conserve your energy, and look for breaking waves at the edge of the current.”

    Remind yourself that a rip current does not drag you underwater. Rip currents only pull you away from the shore. Worrying that the current will pull you underwater could lead to panic. [2]

  2. Escape involves floating with the current, then swimming parallel to the shore to cross the current's edge. If you can’t swim, call for help and wave an arm to get the attention of a lifeguard or other people on the beach. [3]
    • If you know how to swim, you should be able to escape and swim back to shore at an angle away from the current. However, if you have any doubt about your ability to break free of the current, call and wave for help.
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  3. Float or tread water until you can swim out of the current. Your instincts may be to fight the current and swim directly back to shore. However, that’s the most dangerous thing you could do. Instead, focus on keeping your head above water and float until the current has weakened and you're able to swim through its boundary. [4]
    • If you can’t tell how strong the current is, look at any fixed point on the horizon and see if it moves. You should be able to get a sense of how fast you’re floating away based on how quickly the fixed point moves.
    • Most rip currents weaken about 50 to 100 yards (46 to 91 m) from shore. Once the current has begun to subside, you’ll have an easier time swimming out of it.
    • Warning: Even the strongest swimmers will struggle against a strong rip current. Trying to swim against one early on may end up just tiring you out if you need that energy later to swim back. If you try to swim out and you can’t make progress, just float. You won’t be carried that far out.
  4. Most rip currents are between 30 and 100 feet (9.1 and 30.5 m) wide. Look for the nearest breaking waves; they indicate the current’s edge. Swim toward the waves, and be sure to move parallel to the shore instead of directly towards it. [5]

    Swimming Parallel to Shore vs. Floating Free

    Some researchers advise against swimming parallel to shore. Instead, they recommend simply floating to the end of the current and then swimming back to shore. [6]

    Swimming parallel to shore is the official recommendation. As of 2018, NOAA and the U.S. Lifesaving Association continue to urge swimmers to swim parallel to shore.

    Key takeaways: If you're not a strong swimmer, call for help. If you can swim, paddle parallel to shore, but avoid exhausting yourself. If you're not making progress, save your energy and float until the current weakens or rescue arrives. [7]

  5. Once you are out of the current, make your way back to shore at an angle away from the current. Swimming diagonally away from the rip current minimizes the chance that you'll reenter it. [8]
    • Rip currents often form around jetties and other structures perpendicular (at a 90-degree angle) to the beach. If you are near one of these structures, swim away from it.
    • If necessary, stop and float periodically to rest. If you’re exhausted and can’t swim any further, call for help and wave your arms.
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Section 2 of 3:

How to Identify a Rip Current

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  1. Check for areas that don’t have white foam or don’t seem to have any breaking waves. Note that you’re not looking for gaps between a wave and the one behind it. Gaps that indicate rip currents are within the horizontal wave line itself. [9]
    • Rip currents are basically express lanes to open water that sit perpendicular to the shore. If you see any columns of still water on the beach, the odds are high they’re rip currents.
  2. Checking for signs of a rip current can help you avoid getting caught in one in the first place. Just keep in mind that it's not always possible to identify a rip current, so use caution even if you don't see any warning signs. [10]
    • Signs of a rip current are subtle and aren't always present. A rip current could also form while you're already in the water.
  3. When you first get to the beach, look at the area where the waves meet the sand. A high spot, like a dune or boardwalk, offers the best vantage point. [11]
    • It’s easier to spot a rip current from an elevated position than at eye level.
    • Polarized sunglasses can help make it easier to spot warning signs of a rip current. Without the sun's glare, you might have an easier time recognizing signs such as a gap in wave patterns or debris being carried out to sea. [12]
  4. Usually, waves carry foam, seaweed, and other debris toward the sand. Look for a channel of objects steadily traveling out to sea instead of bobbing up and down or moving toward the shore. It may look a bit like a river within the ocean flowing away from the shore. [13]
    • Additionally, the water within a rip current may be slightly discolored. This is due to the sediments picked up by the current.
  5. Don’t go in the water in the area where you’ve spotted signs of a rip current. Tell the nearest lifeguard; they’ll likely already be aware, but it’s helpful to check in with them just in case. Ask them about the beach forecast and if there are any warnings or alerts about hazardous conditions. [14]
    • Keep your guard up even if you don’t see any signs of a rip current. They can be difficult to spot, and a rip current may be present even if you don’t see any indicators.
    • Pay special attention when you’re surfing. Surfers are especially likely to end up in rip currents because larger waves tend to feed into them. If you see an especially calm channel appear out of nowhere, steer away from it.
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Section 3 of 3:

Beach Safety

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  1. Avoid swimming alone, and stick to guarded beaches. Additionally, go swimming in the water in front of a lifeguard stand, especially if there are any alerts about possible rip currents or other hazardous conditions. [15]
    • Swim near a lifeguard stand, but remember not to set up your blanket or chairs in front of the stand. The lifeguard will need a clear path to the water if they have to make a rescue.
    • If you do go swimming on an unguarded beach, avoid going in deeper than your waist. It's also best to bring a floatation device into the water with you. [16]
  2. When you get to the beach, look for flags or signs that indicate potentially dangerous ocean conditions. If you see a flag and aren’t sure what it means, ask a lifeguard. [17]
    • If you live in the United States, check your local beach forecast online before heading out.
    • Beach flags are normally color-coded. Black, red, and double-red flags usually indicate seriously dangerous swimming conditions. [18]
  3. While strong winds can make waves choppier, rip currents aren’t directly caused by the weather and can form even in calm conditions. Key factors include the shape of the ocean bottom, sandbars, and structures such as jetties, rocks, and piers. [19]
    • Rip currents can form at any time, but they’re more likely to develop during low tides.
  4. Only a lifeguard or other trained emergency responder should attempt a rescue. If there is no lifeguard present, call emergency services and yell out instructions to the person caught in the current. [20]
    • Yell to them “Stay calm! Don’t try to fight the current. Swim parallel to shore to get out of it.”
    • Try to find an object that floats and, if possible, throw it to the person caught in the current. If you don't have rescue equipment, such as a life jacket or ring buoy, a surfboard, boogie board, cooler, or foam noodle could work as improvised floatation devices. [21]
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  • Question
    Do rip currents pull you underwater?
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    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
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    No, rip currents don’t pull you under the water, but they will carry you away from shore. Trying to fight against them can lead to exhaustion, putting your life in danger. That’s why it’s important to swim parallel to the rip current and the shore instead of trying to swim out of it by going towards the shore.
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    Why do people drown in rip currents?
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    People can drown in rip currents when they panic and lose control in the water, or when they try to swim against the current and exhaust themselves. An inexperienced swimmer trying to save someone else from a rip current can also end up being pulled under by the panicking victim of the current, which can lead to drowning.
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    What’s the difference between a riptide and the undertow?
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    Undertow is a type of current that occurs when large waves are breaking at the beach. After a wave breaks, the water can rush back, causing you to feel as though you are being pulled under or backwards before being pummeled by the next breaking wave. A true riptide is a type of current that occurs offshore, at an inlet. Rip currents also occur offshore and will pull you along on the surface of the water.
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      Tips

      • If you’re caught in a rip current and aren’t sure what to do, don’t be afraid, ashamed, or embarrassed to wave and yell for help.
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      • The term “rip tide” is commonly used to describe rip currents, but they’re not the same thing. A rip tide is a similar type of current that occurs in narrow channels of water, which are typically off-limits for swimmers. To avoid confusing this type of current with rip currents, the terms “tidal jet” or “flood jet” are preferred over “rip tide.”
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      Warnings

      • Remember, not even an Olympic swimmer can outpace a strong rip current. Never try to fight the current by swimming directly toward shore.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.usla.org/page/ripcurrents
      2. ↑ https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/ripcurrentfeature/
      3. ↑ https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23792
      4. ↑ https://today.tamu.edu/2015/06/04/rip-current-survey-could-save-lives/
      5. ↑ https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/ripcurrentfeature/
      6. ↑ https://www.weather.gov/media/safety/rip/rip_brochure_51419b.pdf
      7. ↑ https://www.usla.org/page/ripcurrents
      8. ↑ https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/ripcurrentfeature/
      9. ↑ https://www.usla.org/page/ripcurrents
      1. ↑ https://www.usla.org/page/ripcurrents
      2. ↑ https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/ripcurrentfeature/
      3. ↑ https://www.usla.org/page/ripcurrents
      4. ↑ https://scijinks.gov/rip-currents/
      5. ↑ https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/ripcurrentfeature/
      6. ↑ https://www.weather.gov/safety/ripcurrent
      7. ↑ https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/ripcurrentfeature/
      8. ↑ https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/ripcurrentfeature/
      9. ↑ https://www.volusia.org/services/public-protection/beach-safety/beach-warning-flags.stml
      10. ↑ https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/ripcurrentfeature/
      11. ↑ https://www.usla.org/page/ripcurrents
      12. ↑ https://hcfl.gov/newsroom/2024/07/11/rip-currents-go-with-the-flow-don-t-fight-it

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Getting caught in a riptide is very dangerous, but if you stay calm, you’ll have a better chance of getting to safety. Keep your head above the water and take slow, deep breaths. Do not try to swim against the current. Instead, swim parallel to the shore or float with the current until it weakens, then swim diagonally to shore, away from the current. If you’re not a strong swimmer, wave your arms and yell for help and float until someone reaches you. For tips on spotting a rip current, read on!

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        Aug 20, 2017

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