Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant | University of Illinois

Back to Newsroom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2006

Rip Current Awareness Can Save Lives

URBANA - Rip currents have been making a lot of waves lately, both in the news and along beaches. These narrow, fast-moving channels of water that pull away from shore, are powerful enough to sweep away even the strongest swimmers. In recent years, more than 20 people have died along the shores of the Great Lakes. Along ocean beaches rip currents are the number one cause of drowning, according to the U.S. Lifesaving Association.

NOAA's National Weather Service, Ocean Service, and Sea Grant have designated this week, June 4-10 as National Rip Current Awareness Week. Rip current education is critical to every swimmer and especially those who visit beaches infrequently and may be unfamiliar with this swimming hazard.

Rip currents are narrow channels of fast-moving water that pull swimmers out to sea. Panicked swimmers fail trying to counter the current by swimming straight back to shore--putting themselves at risk of drowning because of fatigue. Lifeguards rescue tens of thousands of people from rip currents in the U.S., but it is estimated that 100 people are killed by rip currents annually.

"No matter how often you swim or how well you swim, rip currents are a powerful force. If caught in a rip current, don't fight it! Swim parallel to the shore until you are well away from the rip and then swim back to land at an angle," said Jim Lubner, Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute water safety specialist.

"Checking the rip current forecast, swimming on guarded beaches, and knowing how to escape a rip current's grip can be life-saving actions," said Brig. Gen. David L. Johnson, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), director of NOAA's National Weather Service. NOAA National Weather Service offices issue outlooks, such as surf zone forecasts that indicate when rip currents are a threat. These are available online, through the media, and are broadcast over NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine resources. Sea Grant is NOAA's primary university-based program, located in each coastal state to promote better understanding, conservation and use of America's coastal resources.

-30-

The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program is one of more than 30 National Sea Grant College Programs. Created by Congress in 1966, Sea Grant combines university, government, business and industry expertise to address coastal and Great Lakes needs. Funding is provided by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U. S. Department of Commerce, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Purdue University at West Lafayette, Indiana.