“BREAK THE GRIP OF THE RIP”

Remembering this quote may save a life. Rip currents are channels of water flowing away from the beach. Rip currents can form on any beach with breaking waves, including the Great Lakes. They form when water piles up between breaking waves and the shore. The piled water returns to the sea in a narrow stream of fast moving water.  The speed of the returning water is not always fast, but dangerous rip currents are fast moving.ave

Swimmers drown when pulled away from shore and are unable to stay afloat or swim to shore. Many swimmers panic and become exhausted trying to swim back to shore against the current. Another cause maybe lack of swimming skills. Learning to swim is one of the most important skills  adults and children can have if around water. Learn to swim!

If caught in a rip current, remain calm and don’t fight the current. Swimming against the current to return to shore will exhaust even the strongest swimmer. To break the grip of the rip, swim to the side of the current. Continuing swimming either up or down the beach until out of the current. Once out of the current, swim at an angle away from the current and back to the beach.

Check out the video clip on how to break the grip of the rip!