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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 or a different color in a channel shape.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You cannot touch bottom and feel pulled seaward.
Scene hazards: Exhaustion, Pulling away from shore, Panicking, Undertow
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do not panic. Do not swim straight toward the beach.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Float on your back to conserve energy if tired.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Swim parallel to the shore — along the beach line — until out of the current.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Once free, swim at an angle back toward shore.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If too tired to swim, float on back and wave arms for rescue.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Shout for help while floating.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Wave both arms overhead and shout to people on shore.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If someone calls 112 for you, they should report rip current and your location relative to lifeguard tower or landmark.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If rescued after exhaustion or swallowing water, accept medical evaluation.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Secondary drowning symptoms can develop after leaving the water.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT fight the current by swimming directly toward shore.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT panic and exhaust yourself within minutes.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT assume someone will jump in to save you — signal clearly.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Rip currents pull you underwater to the bottom
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Rip currents flow along the surface away from shore. You float — the danger is exhaustion and distance from help.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — People panic and fight downward instead of floating and escaping sideways.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A rip current is a narrow, fast channel flowing away from shore. It will not pull you under but pulls you away from land.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Most rip current deaths happen from exhaustion fighting the current, not from being pulled underwater.