Riptides are no joke.
Especially in places like Hawaii, where countless unsuspecting swimmers are swept out to sea every year, sometimes even when they’re just strolling along the shore.
And so, the North Shore Lifeguard Association posted this friendly reminder video, or a public service announcement, to highlight just how sketchy riptides can be, and how vigilant people need to be when dealing with the ocean.
Captioning the clip, they wrote:
“It can happen so quickly. If you see someone taking unnecessary risks feel free to voice your concerns. It could save a life.”
With hordes of tourists flooding the North Shore every season, the lifeguards have their hands full with rescues. It’s not just the surfers who need help as they face some of the world’s heaviest waves. Often times, it’s the tourists – the ones with little ocean knowledge – who need the most help.
As for what to do when dealing with a rip current, here’s a report from NOAA:
“If you do get caught in a rip current, the best thing you can do is stay calm. It’s not going to pull you underwater, it’s just going to pull you away from shore.
“Call and wave for help. You want to float, and you don’t want to swim back to shore against the rip current because it will just tire you out. You want to swim out of the rip, parallel to shore, along the beach and then follow breaking waves back to shore at an angle.”
Stay safe, stay vigilant.
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