Summer has come, which means Beach season It is already in full swing.
Although days at the beach can be full of fun, it’s important to be careful, especially with dangerous waves and currents.
Recently, three people from Alabama died after being caught in rip currents off Panama City Beach, Florida, authorities there said.
Stay healthy: Avoid drowning with these child safety water tips
The day before, a Pennsylvania couple was vacationing with their six children drowned after getting stuck in a strong current The incident happened near Hutchinson Island, Florida, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office and Fox News Digital.
That brings the total number of surf-zone deaths in the United States this year to 16, according to the National Weather Service.
There have been 16 surf-zone deaths in the United States so far this year, according to the National Weather Service. (Joe Cavarretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)
Fox News Digital reached out to water safety experts to share tips with others to help prevent a trip to the beach from ending in tragedy.
Experts shared a variety of advice and insights.
Read on to learn seven tips you should know.
1. Know the warnings when you first arrive at the beach
“The first thing every beach-goer should do when they get there is the condition of the beach,” Chris DeJong, a former national champion swimmer and the Atlanta-based founder of Big Blue Swim School, a national chain of swim schools for kids, told Fox News Digital about the issue last year.
He also said, “Be sure to check flagged warnings.”
DeJong said a yellow flag means a strong current is expected, while a red flag means a “dangerous” strong current is expected.
In the above image, green color is used to represent current flowing in water. (NOAA via AP)
According to the National Weather Service website, rip currents, also called riptides, are defined as “channelized currents of water flowing away from the shore at surf beaches.”
The site also mentions that, “Typically, they form at breaks in sand dunes, and near structures, such as jetties and piers, and near rocks that protrude into the water.”
“Rip currents are common and can be found on most surf beaches, including the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico.”
2. Swim in the presence of a lifeguard
DeJong said lifeguards are “trained to recognize rip currents” and “trained in rip current rescue and have the equipment necessary to help.”
According to officials, it is always advisable to swim in the presence of a lifeguard and follow all their instructions. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)
It’s also dangerous for swimmers to attempt to rescue someone from a rip current alone, according to Gerry Dworkin, water rescue and safety consultant and expert for Maine-based Lifesaving Resources.
He said, “Leave the rescue work to the professionals.”
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Registered nurse Mary Jo Quintero told Fox News Digital that while lifeguards are important, they are “an extra layer of safety.” She is the water safety coordinator at Valley Children’s Healthcare in California.
Lifeguards are specially trained to rescue people caught in strong currents. However, one professional said that lifeguards “cannot replace adult supervision” for children. (K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP)
“Lifeguards do not replace adult supervision for children,” he said.
3. Remember that calm waters are not always safe
an alleged calm piece of water Dworkin said this could actually be a deadly rip current.
“To the untrained observer a true rapid may appear to be calm water, when in reality it appears calm (only) because a channel has been created between the sand dunes and that channel is pushing water back out to sea,” he said.
This graphic from the National Weather Service shows what to do if you get caught in a rip current. The best way to escape is to swim parallel to the shore, out of the current. (US National Weather Service)
Strong currents account for 80% of marine life-saving interventions, Dworkin said.
4. If you are caught in stormy waves, swim parallel to the shore, then try to get into the water.
“Don’t try to fight against the flow of water to avoid a rapid,” Dworkin said.
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Rather than fighting the strong current and attempting to swim to shore, Dworkin said, one should “swim parallel to the shore to escape the channel, and then either swim across or swim back.”
5. Keep calm and float on your back
DeJong also advised that if you’re caught in a rip current, it’s important to stay calm and float on your back.
“The strong current won’t pull you under the water. It will pull you further away from the shore,” he said.
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Try signaling for help while swimming.
“Raise both hands to get the lifeguard’s attention,” Quintero said.
Families play in the water at Orange Beach, Alabama. Professionals advise that parents and other adults should pay special attention to children at the beach. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
“If someone is caught in a rip current and you’re standing on the beach, talk to that person,” DeJong said.
“Advise the person to swim or float parallel to the shore and help keep him or her calm while you call 911,” he said.
6. Know that flotation devices aren’t always helpful
“A flotation device is not guaranteed to help you or your child escape a rip current,” DeJong said.
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“While it can help you stay afloat, it should not be used to ignore warning flags or a lack of lifeguards.”
7. Be alert and aware near water bodies
“If a family is going to an open body of water, prepare ahead of time and be informed about the conditions so everyone can stay safe in the water,” Quintero said.
This is especially important when children are present.
Study: Most children are okay after drowning
have to drown leading cause of death among children The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states on its website that the disease is most common in children ages 1 to 4 and is the second leading cause of unintentional injury or death in children ages 5 to 14.
A California-based water safety expert said parents should be vigilant and aware of their children at all times and avoid reading or other distractions while going to the beach. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
“One of the most important ‘must haves’ for any beach trip is adult supervision without distractions such as mobile phones, reading, etc.,” Quintero said.
He also said that it is also good to remember to clean up any trash you leave behind before leaving the beach.
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“Leave the region in better condition than you found it,” Quintero advised.
“Keep our beaches clean and do not litter there, which can pose a threat to human and marine life,” he said.
