FLIP the RIP Guide to Escaping Rip Currents
- bev8653
- May 9
- 2 min read
Spot a Rip Current Before You Get and use our FLIP the Rip Guide
RIP CURRENTS
What Is a Rip Current?
Rip currents are fast-moving, narrow channels of water that flow away from shore. They can move faster than an Olympic swimmer and typically carry swimmers 100–300 feet offshore, though in extreme cases they can extend much farther.
One of the biggest dangers is that rip currents often look like the calmest part of the beach. According to NOAA, rip currents account for about 80% of beach rescues.
What To Do If You’re Caught in a Rip Current
Rip currents do not always pull swimmers straight out to sea. Many move at an angle along the shoreline, which is why the old advice to just “swim sideways” can sometimes leave swimmers exhausted and confused.
If the water is shallow enough:
Stand up immediately and walk out of the current.
If you cannot stand, use the FLIP method:
FLOAT— Conserve energy and stay calm.
LOOK — Find nearby swimmers, boats, lifeguards, or anyone who can help.
INAHALE — Focus on breathing and yell for help.
PAY ATTENTION to the current, then PADDLE — Notice which direction it’s moving, paddle to the side. Never paddle directly into the current. Rip currents usually weaken beyond the breaking waves. As the current slows, work your way gradually back toward shore, NEVER going directly back to shore the way you just were pulled out.
How To Spot a Rip Current
Before entering the ocean, take a moment to observe the water conditions from shore. Ease into the water gradually — ankle deep, then knee deep — because rip currents can sometimes be felt even in shallow water.
According to NOAA, signs of a rip current may include:
A narrow gap of darker, calmer water between breaking waves
Choppy or churning water
A line of foam or debris moving away from shore
A break in the normal wave pattern
Sometimes a rip current looks like an actual river between the waves
A rip current sometimes appears darker than the surrounding water. Other times, it may be nearly impossible to see. In many cases, the water inside the rip looks calmer on the surface than the waves on either side.
Surfers sometimes use rip currents to quickly paddle beyond the breaking waves, but they can be extremely dangerous for swimmers without a surfboard or flotation device.
NOAA has a simple video guide explaining rip currents for all ages:
When approaching a body of water, the best thing to do is to always take a breath and observe the water. Mind Your Mind. Respect the Water.
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