Why are Rip Currents dangerous?

Rip currents are the number one hazard on Australia’s beaches and are the cause of most rescues and many drowning deaths every year.

They can be extremely dangerous, dragging swimmers away from the beach. Rip currents often lead to drowning when swimmers attempt to fight the current, become exhausted and begin to panic.

Rip currents can also be deadly for non-swimmers as a person standing in waist deep water can be dragged out into deeper waters, where they can drown if they are unable to swim and are not wearing a flotation device.

Rip currents are particularly hazardous approximately 3 hours before and after the daily maximum low tide. Rips always flow fastest around low tide.

When waves are larger. The speed of the rip currents is also higher and the conditions are therefore more dangerous. However, when these conditions exist less people typically enter the water.

However, rip currents can flow quickly even on days when the surf is not large. Many rescues and drowning deaths occur on what seems like a beautiful day for swimming. On these days, more people enter the water unaware that rip currents are present. They are also more tempted to swim outside the red and yellow flags.

© Rob Brander	© Rob Brander	© SLSA

There is also a misconception that calm water is always safe and this is sometimes where people choose to swim as an alternative to between the red and yellow flags. Unfortunately, these calmer waters present the typical appearance of where rip currents begin. The surface of the water often has a calmer appearance with ripples on the surface indicting a subtle flow of water away from the beach.

© Rob Brander	© SLSA	© SLSA

There are more complex issues surrounding rip currents and may explain why people continue to drown in them, despite extensive education campaigns and warning signs.

TOP

Common misconceptions about rip currents

Studies have confirmed that rip currents do not pull people under water causing them to drown. Rips are not undertow
They simply take a person away from the beach, often eventually back into the wave zone. Rip current related drowning deaths are therefore due to variable factors including:

• Ability to swim,
• The instinctive nature to attempt to swim directly back into shore against the rip current which leads to fatigue,
• The panic which results and the impairment of judgment,
• Not attending a patrolled beach where services are able to assist/rescue.

Rip currents can be hazardous all the time, not just when there are large surf conditions
When waves are larger the speed of the rip current is also higher resulting in increased risk. However, when these conditions exist less people typically enter the water. It is on days when the surf is not large that more drowning deaths occur as more people enter the water and those individuals are more confident and less concerned about rip currents.

Calm water is not always ‘safe’ water
Many people end up in a rip current as a result of choosing to swim in an area of calm water on the beach. Unfortunately, where rip currents start on the shore, the water often has a calmer appearance with ripples on the surface indicting a subtle flow of water out to sea. The best area to swim is between the red and yellow flags to ensure you are watched over.

Rip currents can be used wisely depending on your ability in the surf environment
Lifesavers and lifeguards use rip currents to get to people in trouble more quickly and surfers often use a rip current to get out through the wave zone. However, in order to do this it takes years of training and experience and caution should always be taken.

There is no such thing as a “rip tide”
Rip currents are sometimes referred to as ‘rip tides’, which is misleading as tides refer to water level changes over a period of 6-12 hours, whereas rip currents are currents moving over seconds, minutes and hours.

TOP