Rip Currents - The Hidden Danger (short version)

This video details the dangers of rip currents and explains how to identify rip currents, as well as how to stay safe. Before heading into the water make sure that you and your family know how to break the grip of the rip.

Rip currents are powerful, fast-moving seaward currents that can pull even the strongest swimmers out to sea. Be safe. Know how to swim, never swim alone and, when in doubt, don't go out. If you become caught in a rip current, don't fight the current; swim out of the current, then to shore. If you can't escape, float or tread water. If you need help, call or wave for assistance.

[andrealittle]

I've learned this the hard way after swimming right into the rip somewhere in Australia.
At the time I had no knowledge at all of the danger that I was in.Wild beach, no people, no lifeguards.Very soon I realized that trying to swim towards the beach has taken me farther out so I stopped swimming.The beach looked far away.There's got to be a way out of this I said to myself Braking waves looked far but suddenly very appealing.I began to swim towards them then out and had lived to tell the tale.Looking back I can't believe how calm I was at the point when I realized that today i may drown.Usually I panic.

[opwave]

Best video on rip currents I’ve seen. Concise yet packed with plenty of visual aids. The info on what to do when caught in a rip current is helpful, especially the suggestion to tread water: stop fighting the current and tread water until you no longer feel it pulling you out. Then swim parallel to the beach to get out of the current and try to alert the lifeguard.

[lovelyladie]

My son was just caught in one at Pismo last weekend he made it out thankfully, this is very informative thank you

[emerypride]

Something similar happened to me on south beach with a friend who I convinced to swim out to a sand bar. The path quickly changed and got really deep on the way back. We found ourselves swimming for our lives. Repeatedly getting hit by huge waves & couldn’t feel the bottom. A terrible feeling. I seriously thought that I’d be responsible for his death & possibly my own since he wasn’t that great of a swimmer & had Asthma. I Started to tired & treaded water for a bit & looked back & heard him say my name before going under once. Then he came back up and we both kept swimming & made it back to the shore extremely exhausted. Just laid there in the sand

[candice]

Many people don’t understand how dangerous water can be!

[allexfenty]

This is why learning to lay float is very important! You can save your energy if you just learn. No excuse not to learn this technique.

[hemeranyx]

I’m never going more than knee high anymore in the beach. I can’t swim and I easily panic when I’m in chest high water. After knowing this, I’d be happy basking on the sun on the sand droning my pina colada 🍹

[legalgreenmusic]

A well respected high school teacher that passed away recently due to Rip brought me here. Its so sad

[kulanchandrasekaran]

Nice fact-filled no-nonsense video on a vitally important topic. Thanks.

[chrisp]

Ya know i think I got caught in one when I was a kid. Very young and little, swam out alone. I could swim at the time but I tried fighting it not knowing what it was. Got lucky cause I think it wasn’t that big or maybe I accidentally got out of it on my own, ended up being sucked out to sea then got dragged back to the beach by the waves and face planted on the sand at the end of it. I guess I got lucky, like the sea taught me a lesson of caution and then gave me a good slap to remember it by the end of it.

[southernsmokey]

What they don't tell you in this is rip current can be up to miles long and also they can form in decent sized lakes most lakes here in Texas have them I've experienced it first hand jumping off the boat by the time I surface I'm 15 meters away from it be safe everyone

[melplex]

I'm going to the beach with my grandmother tomorrow. This was very helpful. If I end up in one I will use this information

[aicerg]

I've experienced these (mild ones I bet) and never knew they could be this dangerous. I just thought it was freaky how at one moment you're in the shore and when you least expect it people look like ants.

[Why_Ehch]

I was swimming in Mexico (chest high water) and all of a sudden, I couldn't feel the ground under me and the water around me was dragging me deeper into the sea. I am not a great swimmer and luckily, I was able to be pushed back near the shore. It was definitely a mini rip current but it was enough to steer me away. I now only go waist high and never more. Also, swimming seemed impossible at the moment and mini waves kept hitting my face where it was hard to breath. Some people, myself included back then, underestimate how strong a body of water can be.

[dawatou]

Thanks man ... i'm a bad swimmer .. this can help if im that trouble

[khalidalaudin]

Very well explained. Great video . Thanks for the info.

[onceitisover]

My near death experience in Canggu Bali, no lifeguards, and I waved but no one saw me. Glad I thought about swimming to the right to surfers that were pretty far, and then after a bit swimming, I was out of the ripcurrent and could come out myself.

[JonathanLopez-skty]

Thanks for the advice. It can certainly prove to be a lifesaver.

[andreabaker]

I did. Trying to make sense of this unfortunate tragedy.
My heart is broken!

[rome]

Great info. My dads cousin died from being dragged out by a rip current. This happened at Jakyll Island down in Georgia, they never found him.