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Summer safety tips: What to do if you’re caught in a rip current
MEANS IT’S BUSY AT THE BEACH. A LIVE LOOK FROM NEW SMYRNA WHERE FOLKS ARE ENJOYING A WARM DAY BY THE WATER, AND MORE CROWDS MEAN MORE WATER SAFETY ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO ROUGH SEAS. WESH TWO SUNRISE ANCHOR MEREDITH MCDONOUGH HAS A MESSAGE FROM ONE OF OUR LOCAL BEACH SAFETY OFFICIALS. OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS, WE SAW AN INCREDIBLE WATER RESCUE IN SOUTH FLORIDA, BUT ALSO A DEADLY INCIDENT AS MANY BEACH ARE WADING INTO THE WATER AND GETTING CAUGHT IN ROUGH CURRENTS. SEARCH EFFORTS CONTINUE FOR A TEN YEAR-OLD SWIMMER LAST SEEN IN THE WATER NEAR DESTIN. AS OF LAST NIGHT, THE OKALOOSA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAID AT TRINITY, ESSLINGER HAD STILL NOT BEEN FOUND. SHE WAS REPORTED MISSING THURSDAY NIGHT. DIVE TEAMS, BOATS AND AIRCRAFT HAVE BEEN USED OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS TO TRY TO FIND THE LITTLE GIRL. THEN IN SOUTH FLORIDA AT FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH, A FATHER DIED ON FATHER’S DAY WHILE TRYING TO SAVE HIS DAUGHTER WHEN SHE WAS STRUGGLING IN THE WATER. HE MANAGED TO KEEP HER AFLOAT UNTIL LIFEGUARDS ARRIVED. THEN, IN MARTIN COUNTY ON THE TREASURE COAST, A 15 YEAR OLD BOY WAS RESCUED AFTER BEING PULLED OUT TO SEA ON HIS BOOGIE BOARD. NOW, I SPOKE WITH TAMMY MALPHURS, THE DIRECTOR OF VOLUSIA COUNTY BEACH SAFETY OCEAN RESCUE, WITH ADVICE FOR LOCALS AND VACATIONERS. DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A RIP CURRENT. EVEN THE STRONGEST SWIMMERS CAN GET CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT. I THINK PEOPLE COME HERE, THEY LOOK AT THE OCEAN, THEY MAYBE THINK OF IT AS ANOTHER BODY OF WATER, LIKE A LAKE OR A POOL. BUT IT’S NOT. WE HAVE A LOT OF SANDBARS OUT THERE. WE HAVE A LOT OF HOLES IN THOSE SANDBARS THAT CAN PULL YOU INTO DEEPER WATER. THAT’S WHAT A RIP CURRENT IS. TAMMY WENT ON TO SAY THAT HER CREW HAS RESCUED MORE THAN 700 PEOPLE SINCE THE START OF THE NEW YEAR, AND ANNUALLY ABOUT 3000 PEOPLE. ANOTHER REMINDER DON’T PANIC IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT. IT DOESN’T PULL YOU UNDER THE WATER. IT PULLS YOU INT
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Summer safety tips: What to do if you’re caught in a rip current
With two recent tragedies in Florida, both occurring at the beach, experts share some ways beachgoers can stay safe while still having fun.Search efforts continue for a missing 10-year-old last seen in the water near Destin. She has still not been found and was reported missing Thursday night.In South Florida, at Fort Lauderdale Beach, a father died on Father’s Day while trying to save his daughter. He managed to keep her afloat until lifeguards arrived.Many others are wading into the water and getting caught in rip currents.Tammy Malphurs, director of Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue, says no one should underestimate the power of a rip current.”Even the strongest swimmers can get caught in a rip current,” Malphurs said. The Volusia County Beach Safety crew has had over 700 rescue missions since the start of the new year, Malphurs says.Experts remind beachgoers not to panic if they find themselves caught in a rip current. It doesn’t pull you under the water, it pulls you into deeper waters. What to do if you’re caught in a rip currentSwim in front of a lifeguardAsk a lifeguard about the conditions and risksWatch children carefully when they’re in the waterIf you find yourself caught in a rip current, remain calm and do not fight the currentSwim parallel to the shore until you’re out of the current and can swim to safetyIf you are unable to reach the shore, calmly tread waterDraw attention to yourself by waving or yelling for helpIf you see someone in trouble, don’t be a heroThrow the person something that floatsGet help from a lifeguard or call 911
With two recent tragedies in Florida, both occurring at the beach, experts share some ways beachgoers can stay safe while still having fun.
Search efforts continue for a missing 10-year-old last seen in the water near Destin. She has still not been found and was reported missing Thursday night.
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In South Florida, at Fort Lauderdale Beach, a father died on Father’s Day while trying to save his daughter. He managed to keep her afloat until lifeguards arrived.
Many others are wading into the water and getting caught in rip currents.
Tammy Malphurs, director of Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue, says no one should underestimate the power of a rip current.
“Even the strongest swimmers can get caught in a rip current,” Malphurs said.
The Volusia County Beach Safety crew has had over 700 rescue missions since the start of the new year, Malphurs says.
Experts remind beachgoers not to panic if they find themselves caught in a rip current. It doesn’t pull you under the water, it pulls you into deeper waters.
- Swim in front of a lifeguard
- Ask a lifeguard about the conditions and risks
- Watch children carefully when they’re in the water
- If you find yourself caught in a rip current, remain calm and do not fight the current
- Swim parallel to the shore until you’re out of the current and can swim to safety
- If you are unable to reach the shore, calmly tread water
- Draw attention to yourself by waving or yelling for help
- If you see someone in trouble, don’t be a hero
- Throw the person something that floats
- Get help from a lifeguard or call 911
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