A rip current is a strong, localized, and fairly narrow current of water. Rip currents are usually strongest near the surface of the water and move directly offshore, cutting through breaking wave lines. From the oceans, seas, and large lakes, breaks can occur on any beach that has breaking waves.

Rip currents are dangerous because they can be difficult to identify. This is especially true because they often come across people who are inexperienced with waves and ocean currents. I live in a small coastal town in Washington State and am saddened by the number of children, adults, and pets that lose their lives each year on our beautiful beach.

The average swimmer or tourist needs to know the clues to identify a rip current. Some of the ways to identify a tear include:

• A break in the wave pattern when the waves reach the shore. I mean a flat spot on the incoming waves.

• An area of ​​rough and choppy water.

• Sea foam, algae or debris constantly moving in a line towards the sea.

• An area of ​​water of different colors beyond the surf zone.

One, several, or sometimes none of these clues may be present to indicate a tear. It is important to ALWAYS exercise caution when entering water in our oceans and lakes.

Learning to spot a rip current can help you get caught. Some inexperienced swimmers will notice a calm area of ​​water between more turbulent breaking waves that presents an attractive path. This area is actually a rip over a deep channel of a sandbank, and people will inadvertently walk into the most dangerous spot because it seems quiet.

Avoidance is the most important way to survive a rip current. It is very important that anyone diving ankle-deep in the ocean needs to know how to swim and float. It’s easy to get caught in a surf, most of the time it happens in waist deep water. If the person were to dive into a wave, they would resurface much farther from the beach and would continue to be pushed farther from the beach.

What the person does next can decide the fate of their beach experience:

• Stay calm and conserve energy, a rip is like a giant treadmill with no off switch.

• Never try to swim against the current. Even a small rip tide can move faster than an Olympic swimmer can swim.

• Try to swim parallel to the shore and out of the current. Rip currents are usually narrow, so once you’re out of the current, you can start swimming back to shore.

• If you find it very difficult to swim sideways out of the current, try floating or treading water and let nature take care of you by conserving energy. You will be able to swim to shore when the current flows back to shore.

If you are with someone who is caught in a rip current, do not try to rescue them. Call 911, get help from a lifeguard if one is available, and toss a flotation device into the rip current. We see too many tragedies of people trying to save the tearing victim and becoming a drowning victim.