When Caught in a Rip Current, Remember the 3 F's

To someone who's getting sucked out to sea by a rip current, "Don't panic!" may be difficult to heed, even if that's exactly what you should do. Lifeguards, however, say to not only relax, but to flip over and float out of the danger. Rip currents are one of the coast's greatest dangers and account for the most beach rescues every year, per the AP. About 100 people drown from rip currents along US beaches annually, according to the United States Lifesaving Association. Already this year, there have been at least 21 people killed from rip currents in US waters, according to the National Weather Service. Here are some things to know about rip currents:

• Hard to spot: Rip currents are narrow columns of water flowing rapidly away from the beach. They don't pull swimmers underwater, but they can carry them out a fair distance from shore. Low spots along the beach, or areas near jetties or piers, are often where rip currents form. They can be connected to stormy weather but also sometimes occur during sunny days. They can also be hard to detect because the surface water often appears calm. The current can flow as fast as 8 feet per second, faster than even a strong swimmer can overcome, per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
• Don't fight it: The most frequent advice from beach rescue teams and weather forecasters is to "flip, float, and follow." Flipping over to float makes it easier to stay calm, conserves energy, and keeps the airways open while the swimmer is in the rip current's grip. It's nearly impossible to fight the current directly. Many swimmers who get in trouble tire themselves out trying to get back to shore, lifeguards say. "People tend to panic when they can't get into the beach, and that's when we have problems," says San Diego Lifeguard Marine Safety Lt. Charlie Knight. Once the rip current dissipates, it might leave the swimmer out in deeper water. Lifeguards recommend raising an arm to signal for help.
• Warning systems: Flags with different colors are used to warn beachgoers of various hazards. Red means a high hazard, yellow means a moderate threat, and green means low danger. There's also purple for dangerous sea life, such as jellyfish, and double red when a beach is closed for any reason. The NWS posts rip-current risks on its websites around the coasts and has developed a computer model that can predict when conditions exist that may lead to their formation up to six days in advance for the East and Gulf coasts, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Guam.
• Spotting a swimmer in trouble: It can be dangerous to try to rescue someone caught in a rip current, officials say. Often the people trying to perform the rescue can get into trouble themselves. It's best to find a lifeguard, if there is one, or call 911 if you see a struggling swimmer.