Dangerous Currents - Beaches, Tides, and Rips
Ever swum in the ocean? I have. It’s not the safest thing to do. But thousands of people jump in the ocean (or, almost as bad, a very large lake) every year, often from beaches that don’t have a lifeguard on duty.
Playing in the water is a natural, human thing, something we’re always going to want to do. So, the trick is doing it safely.
With summer right here, I’m going to toss some tips as somebody who did, after all, grow up on an island and only almost drowned once.
Red Flag Dead Flag
If a beach has a red flag up, there is a reason. If a beach always has a red flag up, it’s not been forgotten and just left there.
In the U.S., a red flag means don’t swim unless you are really good. Two red flags mean the water is closed, don’t swim.
Unfortunately, this causes problems because in the U.K., one red flag means the water is closed, stay out. You can see how that might have gotten the occasional American tourist who thinks they’re a strong swimmer killed.
And yes, there are some beaches that are permanently red flagged. Great for walking and beachcombing, but not safe to swim there. The first time I encountered this was in Cornwall.
Rip Tide…Rip Current?
One of the reasons a beach might be red flagged is a rip current. Rip currents are extremely dangerous. Some lifeguards call them “drowning machines.”
In the U.K. they’re often called rip tides, which is confusing because they have nothing to do with the actual tides.
Rip currents are currents that flow either away from shore or alongside the shore a distance out. Cornwall has fun with the latter type.
You can get them at any beach with breaking waves, and yes, there are beaches on the Great Lakes with rip currents.
So, how can you tell one is present? A few things to look for:
· Beach “ridges” that are at an angle to the water. This indicates the presence of a current alongside the beach.
· A visible channel of churning and choppy water or of darker, calmer water.
· Difference in water color.
· Consistent area of foam or seaweed.
Rip currents can be as fast as 8 feet a second and in the case of outgoing currents, people drown when they try to swim straight back. Instead, you should turn parallel to the shore, which should get you out of the rip current. If you can’t do that, stay floating and yell.
The key is to change direction so you escape the current. If you’re being carried along the shore, you can often swim back in, but people have been swept so far they go past the end of the beach.
Some rip currents happen in water shallow enough to touch bottom and you can wade out of them.
Nasty Critters
If you see a purple flag on the beach, it means there’s something you don’t want to meet in the water. This typically does not mean a shark.
More likely, it’s jellyfish. Some jellyfish are dangerous to humans. Most are just unpleasant, more like being stung by a wasp, but it’s very easy to accidentally swim into them.
A purple flag means to be careful and keep an eye out for jellyfish, stingrays, or other potentially hazardous marine life. Remember they livethere and be nice. If in doubt, stay out of the water.
If you do get stung by a jellyfish, soak the area in hot water and watch for signs of an allergic reaction. Lifeguards can help. If you get stung by a stingray, which tend to hide under the sand and then get mad when you step on them, get medical attention. People also sometimes get “got” by sea urchins. They sometimes leave their spines stuck in your skin, and that can warrant medical attention too.
But no, most of the time, it’s not sharks.
Offshore Wind
Some beaches might put up an orange windsock. This shows the wind direction. On most beaches, the wind tends to blow outwards.
If there’s a windsock…or you notice strong wind…don’t use inflatables. You can easily get blown out to sea and not be able to swim back.
Oh, and consider not putting out a big beach umbrella. There have absolutely been issues with them blowing away and then landing on people.
Sneaky, Sneaky, Sneaker Waves
Sneaker waves are hazardous even if you didn’t intend to go in the water. It’s any wave that surges up the beach abruptly. Reynisfjara beach in South Iceland is notorious for people drowning in sneaker waves. I’m told there are some beaches in Oregon.
Don’t walk right on the edge of the ocean and never turn your back on it. When you’re walking back in shore, keep one eye on the sea. Watch the waves for twenty minutes or so before going to the edge of the water, so you can see the wave pattern. Oh, and stay off logs by the surfline..and away from them, sneaker waves have been known to drop them on somebody.
Steep, enclosed beaches are the worst for sneaker waves. Do your research and find out if a beach is prone to them, and check weather statements (and tides) before going to the beach.
Oh, and sneaker waves are actually more common when the ocean looks nice and calm. They’re doing more research, but staying well away from the water is the safest thing if you’re on a steeper beach and if locals tell you sneaker waves happen. Always ask and trust the locals (but no, it’s not every fifth or seventh wave, it’s not that easy).
Don’t let this all scare you, though! The safest thing to do is swim only in red and yellow flagged areas with a lifeguard, unless you know what you’re doing…in which case you know all of this anyway!
And remember that the ocean gives life…and takes it…in equal measure. Don’t trust those lakes, either.