One of the perks of living in South Florida is being able to enjoy the beaches year round. Instead of building snowmen, we build sandmen in the winter months. It seems like almost every visitor that comes into town this time of year wants to head out to the beach.
A trip to the beach should be a fun event, yet we have to be mindful of hidden dangers in the ocean. Rip current advisories from the National Weather Service occur with frequency during winter.
Navigating the ocean can be tricky. What may look like a small gentle wave can turn into an emergency in a minute because of currents or undertows below.
Before heading out to the beach, check the tide. It is generally safer to swim in low tide. Be aware of the tides when you are in the water. During low tide, you may be able to walk out to sandbar, but when the tide comes back in, be mindful that you may need to swim in order to get back to shore.
When at the beach, always remember to:
• Never swim alone.
• If possible, always choose to swim at a lifeguard-protected beach.
• Closely supervise children at all times, even if they are not in the water.
Swimmers need to be aware of currents. Currents can vary along the shoreline, and they continue to shift in direction and speed. The most dangerous currents are rip currents. They are powerful channeled currents of water flowing away from shore.
Rip currents are the leading surf hazard for all beachgoers. Every year in the U.S., rip currents cause more than 100 drownings and account for approximately 80 percent of all beach water rescues. These currents do not pull swimmers under water – they pull swimmers away from the shore. Drowning deaths occur when swimmers are unable to stay afloat long enough to swim back to shore.
Because rip currents can occur on any beach with breaking waves, everyone should know the basics of how to survive a rip current:
• Remain calm and don’t try to swim against the current. Instead, swim out of the current in a perpendicular direction, following the shoreline. Once you are out of the current, then swim back to shore.
• If you cannot swim out of the current, float or lightly tread water to conserve your energy until you are out of the current, then swim to shore.
• If you see someone in trouble, get help from a lifeguard. Many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current.
When choosing which beach to visit, try to go to one that has lifeguards. They will advise you of the water conditions and if any marine life, like jellyfish, are present. Lifeguard stands will use flags to warn the public of any hazards. Each flag represents something different. They are:
• Double red flag means the “beach is closed to swimmers.”
• Single red flag means “high hazard” because of high surf and/or strong currents.
• Yellow flag means “medium hazard” with moderate surf and/or hazards.
• Green flag means “low hazard” and calm conditions.
• Purple flag indicates the presence of dangerous marine life.
With the proper planning and preparation, the new year will start off as a safe one.