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Civilian Emergency Platform
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You are at the beach and being pulled quickly away from shore by a strong channel of water.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You are moving away from shore faster than you can swim toward it.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Water may look choppy, discolored, or have debris flowing seaward.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You feel a strong pull on your legs even in shallow water.
Scene hazards: Exhaustion, Pulling away from shore, Panicking, Undertow
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Stay calm. You will not be pulled to the bottom — float to conserve energy.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Raise one arm and wave for help on shore.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT swim straight toward shore — the current is too strong.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Swim parallel to the shore (along the beach) until you feel the pull weaken — usually 30-50 meters.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Then swim diagonally toward shore at an angle.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If too tired to swim — float on your back and wait for rescue.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Wave both arms overhead. Shout to people on shore to call lifeguard or 112.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If you swallowed water or feel chest pain after rescue — go to hospital immediately.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT swim directly against the current toward shore — you will exhaust yourself.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT panic and thrash — this causes drowning.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Rip currents pull you under the water
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Rip currents pull you away from shore along the surface. Exhaustion from fighting the current causes drowning.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — People panic and fight the current instead of swimming parallel.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A rip current is a narrow, fast channel of water flowing away from shore. It will not pull you under, but it pulls you away from land.