Here's what you should do if you are swimming at the beach and get caught in a rip current
Copyright 2010 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Posted: 09/01/2010
A rip current is a strong, narrow current that pulls a swimmer away from shore.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offers these safety tips if you're caught in one.
1. Remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
2. Never fight against the current.
3. Think of it like a treadmill that cannot be turned off, which you need to step to the side of.
4. Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim at an angle--away from the current--towards shore.
5. If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
6. If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by waving your arm and yelling for help.
Copyright 2010 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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