It Takes Hundreds of Lives a Year, But Only 5% Know About It

How to Stay Safe in the Ocean. Any experienced lifeguard will warn you about a deadly phenomenon that claims the lives of more than 100 American beachgoers every year. In fact, about 80% of all rescues that lifeguards make have a connection to this danger. No, it’s not sharks or poisonous jellyfish or anything like that. The most treacherous thing that can happen to you in the ocean is a totally natural phenomenon called a rip current.
The main reason why people lose their lives when stuck in a rip current comes down to panic. When they find themselves suddenly being pulled away from the shore at a high speed, terror ensues, they start to panic, wear themselves out in the fight, and drown because of it. What you should do instead is stay calm, take control of the situation, keep afloat, weigh your options, and don’t exhaust yourself.

TIMESTAMPS
What is a rip current and how is it so deadly? 1:02
How to identify a rip current? 4:10
What to do if you’ve been caught in a rip current? 4:52
Rip current research 6:50

Music:

SUMMARY
-A rip is basically a strong current on the surface of the ocean that flows away from the shore. The main danger of a rip is that it flows seaward away from the shore, so it can easily pull unaware swimmers with it.
-It often looks like a calm patch of water between breaking waves, which at first glance seems like the best place to enter the water. But don't let the tranquility deceive you because you might inadvertently pick the most dangerous place to swim.
-The first thing you absolutely must do is stay calm. Panicking does not help; in fact, it ends up costing people their lives when they’re overcome by it. Second, you need to conserve energy. DO NOT attempt to swim against the rip current toward the shore.
-Dr. Jamie MacMahan, a professor of oceanography started his own research using GPS devices to track rip currents in France, England, and the U.S. Among the great number of currents he’s studied, only 10 to 20% did not return back to the shore. The rest of them moved in circles.

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[BRIGHTSIDEOFFICIAL]

Hey guys! Did you know about this phenomenon before?

[carlcarter]

I was a Lifeguard on eastern Long Island's Ocean beaches. I and my 2 other guards rescued several dozen damsels in distress each month. People would enter the surf in a rip area then after trying to get back to shore for several minutes, get tired and wave to us for help. We would use the same rip current to get out to the swimmer faster, then get the swimmer calmed down so we could tow them out of the rip area and back to shore. Sometimes we would swim to a floating barrel line that was used to indicate the swim area and get them rested enough to get them back to shore. We almost always swam parallel to shore for 30-50 yards to avoid the rip area. We never lost a swimmer in the 4 years I was a lifeguard.

[brenttesterman]

I've been swimming in the ocean for 50 years and have encountered riptides at least 100 times. Swimming parallel to the shore while using a stationary landmark to gauge progress has worked 95% of the time. The other 5%, I have relaxed, floated on my back and frog-kicked diagonally to open water. When free from the current swim to shore. The distance is dependant on the riptide. This has always worked for me. Bottom line is, if you are not a good swimmer never go in the water above your knees! Never go in when there is no Lifeguard! Equipment ie: fins, floatation device, etc is not a substitute for experience or good swimming ability. Don't show-off! When in doubt, STAY OUT! BE SAFE, Peace

[anthonydouglascontares]

Yep it happened to me at Aptos beach in California when I was 12 yrs old. I got taken so far from the beach and was yelling for help no one heard me the people from the church that I was with they were to busy doing baptismal ceremonies they couldn't hear me. I must have been 2 or 3 hundred yards out.
Thank God for the surfer's who were out on that overcast day and taught me how to get myself out of a situation like that and back on shore on my own. The surfer told me not to fight the ocean that I would only lose. He said when the waves came out duck under them and when they came in stay on the surface and let the wave push me towards shore and keep repeating the excercise till you reach the shore. It certainly worked and I learned a valuable lesson in survival that day that I never will forget.🏊🏄

[neforthemoney]

I got caught in a rip current off the coast of Sydney so just laid back, didn't panic and went with the flow. I'm now in China. Happy days!

[what]

“We welcome you to the bright side of the life”


*talks about dark things*

[dobermanism]

Newport, Rhode Island. The most terrifying experience in the water and I was a very strong swimmer and my friend had been an Olympic skier and we were trapped. To this day I do not discuss it but I want to thank all the lifeguards in the water and on the shore who worked together so bravely risking their own lives to swim so far out to save us. Thank you Newport, Rhode Island. I love you.

[brolisimo]

I was on holidays in Portugal last autumn. I was swimming in a sea, laying on my back and relaxing. Then I noticed, that the rocks on a shore are moving. When I lift my head up, I understood that I'm floating away from the shore. I tried to reach the bottom but I couldn't. I knew well about rip currents, so I stayed calm, turned parallel to she shore on my back and used stable objects to watch if I am moving along the shore or not. I was moving. I swam about 10 meters watching the same rock as a landmark when I realised, that I wasn't moving away from the beach anymore. I turned on my belly and pushed back to the shore with few waves. Luckily, the current wasn't big and wide. It would be hard to keep calm if it was very strong and I ended up 300 meters away from the shore. Do not joke with the sea and know what you are doing before entering into sea.

[diannaprescott]

I'm 70 years old and have never heard of a rip current. I live in the US and have only been to the ocean once. This knowledge should be made known to everyone. Like the one person from Australia commented this was taught in their schools at a young age. Thank you Bright Side for educating people with life saving techniques!

[kurtismonasterski]

About 10 years ago when I was 23 we went to Mexico for my sisters wedding, her husband and his brother at the time we're in there early thirties and they asked if I wanted to go snorkelling, me being a very good swimmer agreed instantly. We started out everything was fine we had are heads down looking at the fish under us within I'd say 3 mins I got tapped on the shoulder and my sisters husband was panicking and said look how far the beach is I looked and my heart almost stopped, we tried so hard to swim and we were not going anymore, I remember him saying guys if we don't go under water and swim we won't make it. Thank god we had flippers on, we made it back completely out of breath and no one knew what we we're talking about, needless to say I've never set foot in the ocean again. P.s. When we got back home the next day from Mexico I turned on the news and a bride and her maid of honour went for a swim same beach same resort and they never made it, it's real folks and it's scarier than you can even imagine.

[zyankh]

Basically I was swimming of the North coast of the mediterranean in Egypt and I got pulled in by a severe riptide . I struggled for a bit, then I realised I had to completely sacrifice myself to the riptide by lying on my back and breathing normally and just moving my arms in circular motions . After that I started swimming round more than parallel to the shore and then I made it back safely but it took me in for about 300 feet' minimum, I was petrified . But I'm here now though, and I realise that life can be taken from you at any point in time, so cherish it as much as you can

[nkosirooms]

In South Africa after your out 100 feet.The sharks will decide if your coming back to shore or not.Haha

[ShobuIkosu]

Speaking as someone that has been caught in a rip, they're unforgiving, powerful and the most terrifying experience you can imagine. I was alone on the day I had to fight for my life and the beach I swam from had no lifeguards! The thing that saved me was I stayed calm and swam parallel to the beach until I finally got out of the rip current. I had fins on, a wet suit and facemask and it still took me over an hour to get back to the shoreline. I literally crawled onto the beach on my hands and knees absolutely exhausted and lay on my back counting my blessings that day. Please respect the ocean because it will take your life in an instant if you don't.

[koalapaint]

I thought everyone knew about rip currents, but they are still a problem. I once got caught in one for a few seconds and I was terrified.

[TomDutch]

When I was about 15 years old, me and my 13 year old brother were enjoying massive waves (3 meter) in Douarnenez in France. Typical was that very close to shore the shallow waters got really deep suddenly causing huge waves. A rip current started to pull many people back... my brother was able to hold on to a tall man who was able to stand. It was quite shallow. I myself dove underwater to the bottom and swam below the current and put my hands in the sand to pull myself forward.

The waves were breaking rough in that spot. I almost lost my swimming pants once and a lady pointed at me and laughed... I pointed back because she didnt notice her bikini was pulled too. 😂

[angelaclements]

I can't swim . No more paddling in the shallows thinking I'm safe. Glad I watched this

[LouieBeethoven]

I was caught in a rip current in Hawaii many years ago. Even if you're expecting one it's shocking to look back to shore and find yourself a mile out. I had an air mattress with me which worsened the situation as the mattress acted like a sail. I attempted to swim back to shore because, yeah, that is indeed your inclination. When I kept being pulled out further, I laid on my back and floated for a while to rest up. Finally, I began to inch my way parallel to shore. It took about a mile but I eventually found myself closer to shore and I was finally able to return to shore. It was terrifying.

[PaulPeck]

I’ve saved 4 peoples lives while I was surfing here on the East Coast of Florida. This was 3 different times. The last time I saved 2 people at one time. My advice is to have a flotation device and if you don’t you need to swim parallel to the beach to get out of a rip. I hope this helps someone! Take care, -Paul

[CuriosityCulture]

So there's a higher chance of dying at the beach than flying on a plane? GOT IT.

[kathylesley]

I got caught in a rip current years ago and I swam parallel to the shore. I survived. And I went back to that same beach the next day!