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scooterbug44

SoWal Expert
May 8, 2007
16,706
3,339
Sowal
After checking the flags, my method is to stand in the water's edge and see how much sand gets sucked out from under my feet. If it's enough to change my balance, no swimming, just wading/playing.
 

sunspotbaby

SoWal Insider
Mar 31, 2006
5,000
739
Santa Rosa Beach
I for one appreciate this information from people who are knowledgeable on this subject. I don't go to the beach very often right now, but when my girls get a little bigger, the information you all have shared here will help me and hopefully others who aren't particulartly "beach smart"

Thanks for this!
 

BeachSiO2

Beach Fanatic
Jun 16, 2006
3,294
737
080526-seaside-231.jpg


I just stole this from Kurt's Jazz festival at Seaside pics :blush:, but it shows clearly two sets of horns and cusps where rip currents set-up. Look where the couple is walking (lady in blue shirt). They are very close to a "horn" and their is a cusp with behind them. Then there is a horn with a little boy playing on it, then cusp, horn, etc..

Remember that those cut-backs/cusps are the place where rip currents set-up.
 

BeachSiO2

Beach Fanatic
Jun 16, 2006
3,294
737
Also here is the National Weather Services forecast/outlook page for rip currents so that you can arm yourself with the current information before you go out.

http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/forecasts.shtml

Just because its not red flags doesn't mean there are not rips....
 

nodilberthere

Beach Fanatic
Aug 10, 2007
287
46
We have Riptide 101 (with diagrams) the first beach day we're down every year, but I'm wondering, just how hard is it to adjust your body to swim sideways away from one? Do most people who have fatal encounters with a rip know what to do but panic? or do they not know how to swim out of one and just keep swimming forward? or do they know HOW to swim out of one but can't because it is physically almost impossible to swim sideways when caught in it?

I have a real fear of these. I have night terrors where my boys are swimming in very calm waters. I'm on shore watching and the tide rips them out to sea and I am standing on the beach totally alone unable to scream for help. The kind of nightmare where you wake up sobbing :cry:
 

Bobby J

Beach Fanatic
Apr 18, 2005
4,041
601
Blue Mountain beach
www.lifeonshore.com
We have Riptide 101 (with diagrams) the first beach day we're down every year, but I'm wondering, just how hard is it to adjust your body to swim sideways away from one? Do most people who have fatal encounters with a rip know what to do but panic? or do they not know how to swim out of one and just keep swimming forward? or do they know HOW to swim out of one but can't because it is physically almost impossible to swim sideways when caught in it?

I have a real fear of these. I have night terrors where my boys are swimming in very calm waters. I'm on shore watching and the tide rips them out to sea and I am standing on the beach totally alone unable to scream for help. The kind of nightmare where you wake up sobbing :cry:

When the waters are calm the rip tides are no big deal. When the waters get a little churned up it can become a little tricky. A good rule of thumb for the family is to never allow them in the water without a flotation device attached to their body. The best flotation would be a boogie board. This way, they are having funn catching waves and you don't have to worry as much. I have yet to see anyone get in trouble being attached to something that floats.
 
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