How to detect Rip Tides. How to Survive a Rip Tide?

1. Rip Tides
Marine Science 11
Mr. C. Johnson

2. Objective
• After a brief discussion accompainied with
two video student will with 90 percent
accuracy list precaution in the event of a rip
tide
• Describe a rip tide
• List ways to escape and tip tide
• State a precautionary step

4. The Danger of Rip Currents in the
Bahamas
• A rip current refers to a strong, jet stream-like
return flow that results from waves
continuously circulating along the shore. If the
waves are higher without much break in
between them (often associated with a
stronger wind onshore), the rip current
becomes extremely strong and pulls back out
to sea.

5. Contn’
• Rip currents are incredibly dangerous because
they are extremely fast and hard to swim in,
even for the strongest of swimmers. Rip
currents can range from 1-2 feet per second
(or .7 – 1.4 miles per hour) to as fast as 8 feet
per second (5.5 miles per hour)—faster than
an Olympic swimmer. They can extend out
past the beach, past wave breaks, anywhere
from a few hundred to a few thousand feet
before dissipating

7. Youtube video
• Rip Currents: How to Survive the Deadliest
Ocean's Trick
• Rip Currents: How to Survive the Deadliest
Ocean's Trick
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8eIcPDl
HJY&t=29s
• 10mins

11. Question and Answer
• List a safety pre-caution
• State how individuals on land can assist
• Why do you think signs are impostant

13. How to Spot a Rip Current
• You’re more likely to encounter rip currents in
the Bahamas in areas where the flow of water
is obstructed close to shore. Areas with reefs,
jetties, piers, and parallel sandbars just
offshore are common sites of rip currents. In
particular, areas with offshore sandbars are
known for stronger rip currents, as they block
the return flow of water.

14. ….
• Avoid rip currents by checking the local rip
current conditions before getting in the water.
Ask locals and lifeguards and take a good look
at the water around the beach. If you see
anything floating quickly out to sea, such as
seaweed or debris, there may be a rip current.
Areas with water colored or textured different
from its surroundings, such as choppy water,
can also indicate a rip current.

16. Youtube: Life Lesson on Rip Tides
• https://youtu.be/ZfPEoZEjNIE
•
If At First You Don't Succeed—Try Something
Different (a.k.a. Riptide)

19. Questions
• State two life lesson learn from the second
video
• How do we detect a rip-tide?
• What do you think make rip tides dangersous

22. Safety Measure
• 1
Remain calm. If you get caught in a rip current, don't panic. You'll have a better shot
at getting out of the situation if you stay calm. Keeping your cool can help you
conserve energy and think clearly.
Tips for Staying Calm
Try to control your breathing. Keep your head above the water and take slow, deep
breaths.
Think positive, calming thoughts. Tell yourself “Don’t panic. You can make it out of
this rip current. Don’t fight it, conserve your energy, and look for breaking waves at
the edge of the current.”
Remind yourself that a rip current does not drag you underwater. Rip currents only
pull you away from the shore. Worrying that the current will pull you underwater
could lead to panic.

24. Safety Measures

25. Step 2
• 2 Call for help if you’re not a strong
swimmer. Escape involves floating with the
current, then swimming parallel to the shore to
cross the current's edge. If you can’t swim, call for
help and wave your arms to get the attention of a
lifeguard or other people on the beach.[3]If you
know how to swim, you should be able to escape
and swim back to shore at an angle away from
the current. However, if you have any doubt
about your ability to break free of the current,
call and wave for help.

26. Step 3
Float or tread water until you can swim out of the current. Your instincts may be
to fight the current and swim directly back to shore. However, that’s the most
dangerous thing you could do. Instead, focus on keeping your head above water
until the current has weakened and you're able to swim through its
boundary.[4]Most rip currents weaken about 50 to 100 yards (46 to 91 m) from
shore. Once the current has begun to subside, you’ll have an easier time swimming
out of it.
Even the strongest swimmers can’t fight a rip current. Trying to swim against it can
lead to exhaustion and drowning.

28. Step 4
• Swim parallel to shore to escape the current. Most rip currents are
between 30 and 100 feet (9.1 and 30.5 m) wide. Look for the nearest
breaking waves; they indicate the current’s edge. Swim toward the
waves, and be sure to move parallel to the shore instead of directly
towards it.[5]
• Swimming Parallel to Shore vs. Floating Free
• Some researchers advise against swimming parallel to shore. Instead,
they recommend simply floating to the end of the current, which may
take about 3 minutes.
• Swimming parallel to shore is the official recommendation. As of
2018, NOAA and the U.S. Lifesaving Association continue to urge
swimmers to swim parallel to shore.
• Key takeaways: If you're not a strong swimmer, call for help. If you can
swim, paddle parallel to shore, but avoid exhausting yourself. If you're
not making progress, save energy and float until the current weakens or
rescue arrives.[6]

30. Step 5
• Swim diagonally to the shore after you're out of the
current. Once you are out of the current, make your
way back to shore at an angle away from the current.
Swimming diagonally away from the rip current
minimizes the chance that you'll reenter it. Rip currents
often form around jetties and other structures
perpendicular (at a 90-degree angle) to the beach. If
you are near one of these structures, swim away from
it.
• If necessary, stop and float periodically to rest. If you’re
exhausted and can’t swim any further, call for help and
wave your arms.

33. Spotting the Rip Tide
•
Try to spot areas to avoid before going in the
water. Checking for signs of a rip current can
help you avoid getting caught in one in the
first place. Just keep in mind it's not always
possible to identify a rip current, so use
caution even if you don't see any warning
signs. Signs of a rip current are subtle and
aren't always present. A rip current could also
form while you're already in the water.

35. 2
• Check the shoreline from an elevated
position. When you first get to the beach, look at
the area where the waves meet the sand. A high
spot, like a dune or boardwalk, offers the best
vantage point. It’s easier to spot a rip current
from an elevated position than at eye level.
• Polarized sunglasses can help make it easier to
spot warning signs of a rip current. Without the
sun's glare, you might have an easier time
recognizing signs such as a gap in wave patterns
or debris being carried out to sea.

36. 3
•
Look for gaps in the incoming wave
patterns. Check for areas that don’t have white
foam or don’t seem to have any breaking waves.
Note that you’re not looking for gaps between a
wave and the one behind it. Gaps that indicate rip
currents are within the horizontal wave line itself.
Try searching online for images of rip currents.
They’re tough to spot, but a good indicator is a
gap in the wave pattern.

38. 4
• Spot any foam or seaweed being carried away
from the shore. Usually, waves carry foam,
seaweed, and other debris toward the sand. Look
for a channel of objects steadily traveling out to
sea instead of bobbing up and down or moving
toward the shore. It may look a bit like a river
within the ocean flowing away from the shore.
Additionally, the water within a rip current may
be slightly discolored. This is due to the
sediments picked up by the current.

40. 5
•
Avoid any areas where you suspect a rip current
has formed. Don’t go in the water in the area
where you’ve spotted signs of a rip current. Tell
the nearest lifeguard; they’ll likely already be
aware, but it’s helpful to check in with them just
in case. Ask them about the beach forecast and if
there are any warnings or alerts about hazardous
conditions.Keep your guard up even if you don’t
see any signs of a rip current. They’re difficult to
spot, and a rip current may be present even if you
don’t see any indicators.

42. Rip Tide
• How to Escape a Rip Current
• Should you find yourself in a rip current, the first thing
you must do is not panic. Unlike undertows, rip
currents do not generally pull swimmers underwater.
Instead, non-swimmers and weak swimmers often get
tired out as they are pulled into deeper water out at
sea.
• If you’re caught in a rip current, swim parallel to shore;
do not swim against the flow of the current. Float or
tread water while calling for help. You will eventually
break free, provided you remain calm and keep parallel
to shore.

43. Rip Tide
• If you see someone caught in a rip current, ask
a lifeguard for help. If possible, get a flotation
device to the person, or keep them calm by
talking to them and giving them instructions
for how to escape. Never rescue someone
unless you have the proper training, as that’s a
common way that many people drown.

44. Refer to Google Forms

52. Question
• What is the long current?
• What is the difference between rip current and
long shore current?
• How is the beach developed?
• Sketch the effects of a long short current
• What is a Bar?

53. Homework
• Create a rip tide grosure- can be printed or
done by hand
• Express full creativity whilst displaying
neatness
• Due 30th Nov, 2020