Rip current risk at onset of Memorial Day Weekend: How to stay safe
As Memorial Day weekend kicks off, and summer unofficially gets underway, beachgoers may be wary of rip currents across East Coast beaches spanning from Florida to New Jersey.
On Friday, a high rip current risk can be found off the coast of Florida, and off the coasts of northern states like Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Moderate rip current risks are also present off of Georgia, the Carolinas and Long Island, the NHC said.
The NHC notes that high risk areas mean "Life-threatening rip currents are likely."
That high risk zone also means that "swimming conditions are unsafe for all levels of swimmers. Stay out of the water. Always follow advice from the local beach patrol and flag warning systems."
Moderate risk conditions indicate "life-threatening rips are possible and may appear suddenly. Remain in shallow water and beware of surf that can knock you off your feet,' the NHC warns.
Moving into the weekend, high risk warnings will stay in place across the northern states and Long Island, while parts of Florida will have high and moderate risk.
Among reported beach incidents this week, a swimmer went missing after going swimming on Rockaway Beach in New York on Tuesday, according to the FDNY.
In North Carolina on Monday, the town of Oak Island reported four boaters and a dog were rescued after a boat capsized near the Lockwoods Folly Inlet.
Finding safety if caught in a rip current
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offers guidance on best practices if one finds themselves caught in a rip current.
"The first thing is to relax. Rip currents won't pull you under, they'll just pull you away from shore," explained Dr. Greg Dusek, a senior ocean scientist for the National Ocean Service, in a video covering safety guidelines.
Dusek advised swimmers to "swim out of the current along the beach" and then head back to shore "at an angle following the breaking waves."
If escaping the current is not an option, Dusek advised those in danger to "float or tread water" while attempting to draw attention from onlookers.
The video instructs onlookers to first attempt to find a lifeguard or others on the beach if you notice someone struggling in a rip current. If no one is present, call 911, Dusek said.
Dusek noted that onlookers attempting a rescue should attempt to get a flotation device to the swimmer without entering the water, but if the rescuer must enter the water, bringing a floatation device is advised.
The video also recommended swimming near a lifeguard whenever possible.
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