NWS Posts Rip Current Risk Level

By ADAM SWIFT (Patch Staff)

With the temperatures expected to flirt with 90 degrees for the next several days, Massachusetts beaches are expected to be packed throughout the weekend.

Fun at the beach also comes with the danger of rip currents, which have taken an especially high toll in recent days north of the border at Hampton Beach in New Hampshire, where lifeguards pulled as many as a dozen people out of the water Wednesday because of rip currents.

The National Weather Service is forecasting a low risk of rip currents today along South and North Shore coastlines. There is a moderate risk along outer facing Cape Cod and Southcoast beaches.

No matter the risk level, the NWS has a number of tips for not getting caught in a rip current, with the most important being learning how to swim.

When at the beach:

• Whenever possible, swim at a lifeguard-protected beach.
• Never swim alone.
• Learn how to swim in the surf. It’s not the same as swimming in a pool or lake.
• Be cautious at all times, especially when swimming at unguarded beaches. If in doubt, don’t go out.
• Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards. Lifeguards are trained to identify potential hazards. Ask a lifeguard about the conditions before entering the water. This is part of their job.
• Stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties. Permanent rip currents often exist along side these structures.
• Consider using polarized sunglasses when at the beach.They will help you to spot signatures of rip currents by cutting down glare and reflected sunlight off the ocean’s surface.
• Pay especially close attention to children and elderly when at the beach. Even in shallow water, wave action can cause loss of footing.

If caught in a rip current:

• Remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
• Never fight against the current.
• Think of it like a treadmill that cannot be turned off, which you need to step to the side of.
• 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.
• If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
• If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by waving your arm and yelling for help.

If you see someone in trouble, don’t become a victim too:

• Get help from a lifeguard.
• If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1.
• Throw the rip current victim something that floats--a lifejacket, a cooler, an inflatable ball.
• Yell instructions on how to escape.
• Remember, many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current.

Image via National Weather Service