NSRI shares advice on rip currents following uMhlanga Beach rescue
Do not go into the water unless you are trained to do so, advises NSRI.
STATISTICS show that on average 65 people get caught in a rip current every year.
This is according to data collected by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) based on their responses to such incidents.
Andrew Ingram, drowning prevention manager for the NSRI said collectively, lifeguards around the country, as well as strong swimmers, surfers and the like, rescue hundreds of people from rip currents each year.
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“The biggest danger that people face when visiting the ocean are rip currents and the most sensible way to avoid this danger is to swim at lifeguarded beaches,” he said.
What is a rip current?
“On beaches that have rip currents the waves push up the beach one after the other and the water somehow needs to get back out through the waves.
Often this force of water causes a channel to form, ” said Ingram. Think of when you turn a garden tap on and the water runs in the sand – it digs a ‘river’ out.
“So a rip current is like a river of water that flows from the beach out to the backline where the waves form and then dissipates,” he added.
The easiest way to identify a rip current is to look for a section in the waves that does not have waves or, that has waves that look different to the rest of the line of waves.
“This happens because the water in a rip current channel is deeper than at the sandbanks on either side. Also, the channels will be a darker colour,” he said.
Ingram said to also look out for foam being pulled out, away from the beach.
There may be some other things that float, such as weed, that show the water is flowing away from the beach.
Difficult to spot
He said bathers found it difficult to spot a rip current, so if there are no lifeguards on a beach, his advice is to not swim there.
“In KZN most of the beaches have rip currents so it is really important to swim at a lifeguarded beach and to swim between the flags. The lifeguards understand rips and will keep you safe,“ he said.
If you get caught in a rip current, do not panic.
“Think of it as a river flowing out to sea. It will not pull you under the water – only away from the beach. To escape swim at 90 degrees to the direction that you are being pulled,” said Ingram.
Don’t panic
He said a common issue was that a person in a rip, panics and tries to swim straight back to the beach.
“They become exhausted and drown.
If you can’t swim to the side and get out of a rip, float to survive. The current will become weaker and you can then swim back to the beach,” he added.
Should you see someone in difficulty, Ingram advised that one should not go into the water unless they are trained to do so.
“The risk of drowning while trying to help someone is high. If possible throw the person something that floats,” he said.
He advised calling the NSRI on 112 from your cell phone, or the closest lifeguards to assist.
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