When enjoying the beach, sunshine and sand on Dauphin Island or anywhere else, it’s important to keep safety considerations in mind for your group. Rip currents are a common, natural oceanic phenomenon and can be dangerous if you don’t know what to do.
You don’t have to stay on high alert during every second of your time at the beach with the family. With some rip current basics, you can relax (at least a bit) while remaining safe.
Below are some other essential things to know about rip currents. Also, always remember to swim parallel to shore first and then swim back to land at an angle if you are caught in a rip current!
What is a Rip Current?
A rip current is a narrow channel of water that flows away from the beach out to the ocean. These currents can be strong and exceed 6 miles per hour in speed and extend up to the length of a football field. Anything caught in one can be taken out beyond the break of the waves.
How Do Rip Currents Form?
All the shore water running up along the beach has to go back somewhere and somehow. Waves and side currents can cause water to pool together and collect. The pooled water then funnels back out to the ocean in a narrow path of least resistance, in the opposite direction of the shore, and that is what creates a rip current.
Rip currents can also move through deep troughs in the sand which are formed by waves. They can be intensified by strong winds that push high surf to shore as well as tight narrow passages that create a perfect natural funnel for the backflow to become even stronger.
Remember, because rip currents flow away from shore, swimming toward shore will not work. It will exhaust you and can cause you to panic.
The easiest way to get out of a rip current is to stay calm, and first swim parallel to shore until you are not being pulled, and then swim back to land at an angle.
When and Where Should You Worry About Rip Currents?
While rip currents are more prevalent in the Atlantic, however, they still occur on the Gulf Coast so visitors shouldn’t let their guards down. No matter what beach you visit anywhere in the country, rip tides can be a concern. Rip currents, in their strongest forms, can carry individuals eight feet per second. They are more common and dangerous during high tide.
How Do You Spot Them?
Interestingly, rip currents are not always tumultuous from the surface so sometimes they can be difficult to avoid. They can actually appear underneath relatively calm and smooth waters. Smooth surface areas where the waves are small or not breaking at all could indicate a potential rip current.
During low tide, you may notice a small concave area of sand going out to the water. It may take the form of a subtle “U” shape. Due to the low tide, it is clearly visible. This is a prime place for a potential rip current. When the tide returns, this area will be covered by the water and mark a potential dangerous swimming area.
Avoid rip currents by observing water flow. Stay clear of peculiarly calm areas, especially when the waters surrounding are rougher, and observe local signage.
This is a great example of how rip current can appear along the coast. Click to read more at https://theecologist.org/. Image: Tim Scott, Author: Martin Austin and Bangor University.
What Should You Do if You are Caught in a Rip Current?
Remain calm and do not try to fight the rip current or swim directly back to shore when caught in a rip current. Remember that the current is not pulling you under, it is pulling you out. Swim parallel to the shore.
As previously mentioned, a rip current carries you away from the shore. Swimming directly towards the shore will keep you trapped in the current.
Continue to swim parallel to the shore and you will eventually exit the rip current before it ends, or you will end up far out enough that the rip current no longer pulls you.
Regardless of how far out the current pulls you away from shore, stay calm and swim parallel to the shore until you are not being pulled, then swim back to shore at an angle.
Enjoy your Vacation with Safety in Mind
Rip currents form all over the world and in all major beach destinations. They are naturally occurring phenomena that cannot be stopped by human intervention. But there is no reason why you should stop going to the beach. You can still have an amazing time on your next family vacation, and stay safe. Educate your family on rip currents, stay aware of your kids when at the beach, and consider using life vests, floaties, foam boogie boards, or any other aid in floatation for additional security.
ACP Real Estate includes reading material about Dauphin Island rip currents in each rental property. We ask that you take just a few minutes to review the information after checking in. And if you have any questions or concerns, you can always call our office at 251-861-3311.
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