Rip Current Awareness Week: Break The Grip of The Rip!®

June 3-9, 2007 is Rip Current Awareness Week. If you plan to go to the beach this summer, here's something to learn about first that could save your life.

Here's a site that shows you what a rip current is and how to get out of one. It offers a rip current overview, safety tips, forecasts, photos, headliness, survivor stories, multimedia, links, a glossary, and even a downloadable sign and brochures:

NWS Rip Current Awareness Home Page

Rip currents are powerful, channeled currents of water flowing away from shore. They typically extend from the shoreline, through the surf zone, and past the line of breaking waves. Rip currents can occur at any beach with breaking waves, including the Great Lakes.

Rip currents can be killers. The United States Lifesaving Association estimates that the annual number of deaths due to rip currents on our nation's beaches exceeds 100. Rip currents account for over 80% of rescues performed by surf beach lifeguards.

So visit this site, get the information, and pass it along to your beach-going family members and friends!

Plan to swim in Florida? The State of Florida helps you to avoid rip currents and dangerous marine life with a uniform system of beach warning flags.

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