The National Weather Service issued a statement at 9:15 pm Tuesday, valid for Wednesday between 6 am and 8 pm for Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties.
The weather service describes: “Dangerous rip currents are expected.”
“Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water,” the weather service comments. “Swim close to a lifeguard. If you are caught in a rip current, relax and float. Do not swim against the current. If you can, swim toward shore. If you cannot escape, look toward shore and call or call. signs to ask for help.”
Caught in a Rip: How to Stay Safe
Rip currents, fast channels of water that flow from the shore at surf beaches, can turn a day at the beach into a dangerous situation. Understanding how to respond when we get caught up in one is crucial. The weather service offers these life-saving tips:
1. Stay calm, they won’t drag you down:
- Don’t panic: rip currents won’t drag you underwater.
2. Let yourself go, but not towards the beach:
- Trying to swim directly to the beach when caught in a rip current is futile and exhausting. The current is too strong. Instead, swim parallel to the shore and away from the reach of the rip current.
3. Ask for help if necessary:
- If you feel like you can’t get to shore, relax, look toward shore, and call or wave for help.
4. Look for beaches patrolled by lifeguards for added safety:
- Whenever possible, choose beaches with lifeguards on duty. Their trained eyes and quick response can be a lifesaver in water emergencies.
5. Never swim alone at unsupervised beaches:
- If you choose to swim at beaches without lifeguards, make it a rule to never swim alone. Always bring a friend and make sure that person has a cell phone to call 911 in case of an emergency.
With this information about rip currents and how to react, you can improve your safety when enjoying the beach. Stay informed, stay alert and prioritize your well-being while enjoying surfing.
Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to gather the latest data from the National Weather Service.
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