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Many of us at UNCW came here in part because of UNCW’s proximity
to the ocean. Whether you surf, swim, or sunbathe, the beach
is a fun place to go after work and on the weekends. However,
the ocean can also be dangerous and you should be aware of rip
current hazards.
Common at beaches in North Carolina, rip currents are channelized
currents of water flowing away from the shore that typically form
at breaks in sandbars and near structures such as jetties and piers. Many
rip currents end just beyond the line of breaking waves but some
may continue to pull hundreds of yards off shore at speeds of up
to eight feet per second. Because rip currents can rapidly
increase in speed, they can unexpectedly pull swimmers away from
shore very quickly. Even strong swimmers can get tired trying
to swim against a rip current.
Rip currents can be identified by the presence of a channel of
churning, choppy water; a line of foam, seaweed or debris moving
seaward; or a break in the incoming wave pattern. If you
have trouble identifying rip currents, you can always ask a lifeguard
to point them out to you. Always pay attention to lifeguard
warnings and information about rip currents.
If you do get caught in a rip current, take the following steps:
- Do not fight the current.
- Escape the rip current by swimming parallel to the shoreline. When
you are free from the current, swim at an angle away from the
current toward the 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 that you will be unable to reach shore,
draw attention to yourself by calling out or waving for help.
UNCW is a member of the Rip Current Awareness Strategies Team
(RCAST) sponsored by the National Weather Service (NWS). As
part of RCAST’s mission to educate the public about the dangers
of rip currents, UNCW EH&S offers a Rip Current Awareness training
session upon request. To register call ext. 23057.
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