Know The Currents
Scroll down to learn more about currents have can develop and how you can escape if you find yourself in trouble!
Escaping the Current
Stay calm, don't panic. Stay dry when waves are high!
Rip currents account for 80% of all beach rescues nationally. On the Great Lakes, 85% of current-related drowning rescues or fatalities occurred during times of high waves that come in to the beach in rapid succession. Click on the video to learn about beach safety and how to escape rip currents.
The MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE is to KNOW BEFORE YOU GO by checking the forecast before heading to the beach (click "Know Before You Go Tab" above to access your local beach forecast).
Current types are next. The safety path out of the water depends on the type of current you are in, but in most cases it is best to swim perpendicular to the flow of the current.
Rip Currents
Rip currents carry swimmers into deeper water, where they may not be able to get their footing. These currents rarely extend far out, and will NOT pull you underwater. Common misnomers for this type of current are rip tide, or undertow.
Study the graphic on the right, which describes in detail how to escape a rip current if you find yourself stuck in one!
Longshore Currents
Longshore currents move parallel to or along the shoreline, and are strongest where waves approach the shoreline. These currents make it difficult to keep footing in the water, or to remain in front of any one spot on the beach.
To escape, assess where the flow of the current is flowing. Once you know where the current is flowing, swim perpendicular to the current. In the case of a longshore current, this means swimming towards the beach.
Structural Currents
Structural currents commonly form when the longshore current intersects a shoreline structure, like piers and breakwalls. The water then moves away from the shoreline as a structural current.
They can also form under seemingly benign conditions. For this reason, we recommend you "steer clear of the pier". This means not swimming within 100 yards of these structures, or jumping off of them. You might jump right into the current!
During rough conditions, this is one of the most difficult current to escape. The force of the water can throw you up against the structure and will pull you into deeper water. The combination of a strong structual and longshore current will make it very diffiuclt to swim parallel to or back to the shore. There may be a nearby ladder or someone may be able to throw your a life ring, if available. The best way to escape these currents is not to get caught in one!
Outlet Currents
It’s best to avoid swimming swim near a river, stream, or other water outlet because the outlet current always exists. However, many people do because the water is typically warmer. It’s not worth the risk.
Outlet currents develop where rivers and streams empty into larger bodies of water. Outlet currents can be particularly strong in two scenarios: 1) after heavy rain events and 2) when waves are pushing onshore (at a 90 degree angle).
To escape this current, similar to a Rip Current, swim parallel to shore to escape the current, then swim back to shore.
Channel Currents
Channel currents form where an (often submerged) sandbar connects the shoreline to an offshore feature, such as a set of rocks or a small island. Water is forced to squeeze in between the offshore feature and the beach. This increases the speed of the water moving in between the shoreline and the offshore feature, much like putting a smaller nozzle on a hose. A strong longshore current will make the channel current stronger as even more water is forced into the smaller space.
To escape a channel current, do not fight the current by trying to swim back to the sandbar. Swim back to the shore (perpendicular to the current). If too tired to swim, continue to float and try to signal for help. The further away from the rocks and submerged sandbar, the slower the current will be.
