Southeast rip current deaths have Myrtle Beach rescuers stressing safety for ocean swimmers.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Myrtle Beach city officials are reminding beachgoers to know how to identify rip currents and how to escape if caught in one.
A spokesman for the city’s Ocean Beach Rescue team said it’s important to stay alert because even the strongest swimmer can be swept away from the shore. The team uses the United States Lifesaving Association rip current safety toolkit daily.
Ocean Rescue Lt. Tommy Church said nearly 80% of the agency’s rescues are caused by rip currents. So what should you do if you’re caught in a rip current? Relax and don’t swim against it.
Church said rip currents don’t pull you under water.
“Once you get out of that rip current, the best thing to do is swim parallel, at an angle, back to shore,” he said.
Church says rip currents are very difficult to spot but you’ll be able to see them with practice. He said he tells beachgoers to look for any turning water, debris or sediment pulling away from shore.
“Local lifeguard agencies are all trained to identify and spot rip currents,” he said. “They will usually make that area a no swimming area for the duration of that while it’s present.”
However, not all beaches have a lifeguard present. In that situation, Church said you should dial 911, know your avenue, and throw the person struggling a floatation device.
Myrtle Beach Police spokesman Randolph Angotti said there are always flags on the beach to tell you the current condition of the ocean. Blue means marine wildlife is present, green means it’s safe, yellow means there is a medium hazard and double-red means that it’s not safe to swim.
Angotti also explained what the singular red flag means.
“The most common, when rip currents increase, you’ll see a single red flag,” he said. “It tells you it’s an enhance for rip currents and if you’re not a strong swimmer, don’t enter the water.”
Church said rip currents can happen anywhere that has breaking waves no matter the weather.
However, he said they’re more common during the low tide hours.
“If you have any questions, just stop somebody that’s working on the beach and ask them,” Angotti said. “They’re not going to be upset that you want to be safe while you’re at the beach.”
Church said the job of a lifeguard is to check rip currents, surf height, winds, and heat index, multiple times a day.
