Beware of Rip Currents!

[Kurt]

After high surf & storms like we've had in recent days, the presence of Rip Currents is highly likely.

How to Escape a Rip Current If you find yourself caught in a rip current, don’t panic or swim against the current. Relax, float with the current until it dissipates, then swim parallel to shore and back in. The best way to avoid a rip current is to know the surf conditions before entering the water.

Go to an Access With a Lifeguard
By enjoying the beach where lifeguards are present, beachgoers are provided added safety under the watchful eye of a trained professional. Lifeguards are provided by South Walton Fire District and funded as a part of the Visit South Walton Safety Program.

During Busy season, lifeguards are stationed at these main beach accesses in South Walton. These beach accesses also have parking and restroom facilities. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., lifeguards will be present at these beach accesses: Inlet Beach, Santa Clara, Van Ness Butler, Jr., Blue Mountain, Gulfview Heights, Ed Walline, Dune Allen and Miramar Beach. One lifeguard tower is present at each location with 2 towers at Miramar Beach access.

See all South Walton Beach Accesses>

 

[Mike Smith]

A big problem with rip currents is that people aren't aware thy are caught in one until they find themselves overly tired and making little, if any, progress towards shore. Some thoughts to share from personal experience while vacationing in Mexico and being caught in a rip-tide and pulling two others out (A 12 yo girl requiring 25 minutes of CPR and lived! And one super in-shape man) -
1. You shouldn't encounter any resistance to swimming to shore. If you do, swim laterally or try to stand and move laterally until you don't feel the resistance. The rip tides I've seen usually aren't that wide - maybe 15 yards?? In many cases you can see them when you looking at the water, but not usually while in the water. Follow the sand trail.
2. If you're not a great swimmer then swim with a raft, noodle or other floating object. In my situation I had a boogie board and flippers.
3. if you do need to rescue someone prepare to be swamped. The person being rescued will panic and grab you with all they have - just expect it and hold on.

This happened 25 years ago. And BTW - the girl who drowned and subsequently lived and recovered fully was not swimming. She was with her younger brother playing very near shore and a wave knocked them over and pulled them out to deeper water. The gentleman I pulled out had gone in and rescued the brother and then got stuck himself when he went back for the sister. He was in top physical condition so don't think you can out muscle a rip-tide. Thank goodness it was a happy ending for all!

Hopefully this will help someone else out.. This is just my $.02. You may want to ask a lifeguard their opinion..

 

[Kurt]

Thanks Mike! Panic is the biggest problem. And it is completely understandable that most of us would panic when being "swept out to sea". Many visitors aren't comfortable in the water, especially the gulf.