Rip currents - educate yourself before going to the beach!

[Dan Murphy]

Not dumb at all @disneyseniors. Many people think that and it costs them their lives.

Yes, for sure. We have had many rip current warnings so far this year. Generally, a day or so after the warnings, they are pulling one of two bodies out of the lake.

37 so far this year.

https://news.wttw.com/2024/08/07/rip-currents-high-waves-shut-down-lake-michigan-beaches-wednesday-search-continues#:~:text=Areas around piers, boardwalks, jetties,deadliest of the five lakes.

Here is a video that came up in a quick search.

 

[NotUrsula]

As for how LONG you have to swim parallel, that will depend on the the shape of the coastline and the tide stage at the time. Usually it's isn't more than 1/4 mile before you can turn for shore, and often a whole lot less. My dad, who was maniacal about open-water safety, always told us to do a face-up dead man float for a few minutes if we got too tired trying to cross out of a current. You can hang there and take some good deep breaths to fully oxygenate your lungs.

 

[slo]

Not dumb at all @disneyseniors. Many people think that and it costs them their lives.

Yes, for sure. We have had many rip current warnings so far this year. Generally, a day or so after the warnings, they are pulling one of two bodies out of the lake.

37 so far this year.

https://news.wttw.com/2024/08/07/rip-currents-high-waves-shut-down-lake-michigan-beaches-wednesday-search-continues#:~:text=Areas around piers, boardwalks, jetties,deadliest of the five lakes.

Here is a video that came up in a quick search.

Since Dan and I live in the Chicago area, we both know how deadly Lake Michigan can be. So many people think - it’s just a lake, no big deal. That is so false. Everyone needs to be cautious of the lakes, the same as the oceans.

 

[Imzadi]

As for how LONG you have to swim parallel, that will depend on the the shape of the coastline and the tide stage at the time. Usually it's isn't more than 1/4 mile before you can turn for shore, and often a whole lot less. My dad, who was maniacal about open-water safety, always told us to do a face-up dead man float for a few minutes if we got too tired trying to cross out of a current. You can hang there and take some good deep breaths to fully oxygenate your lungs.

But, aren't you floating more out to sea while you are floating? I think that is what panics and terrifies people.

 

[disneyseniors]

Not dumb at all @disneyseniors. Many people think that and it costs them their lives.

Yes, for sure. We have had many rip current warnings so far this year. Generally, a day or so after the warnings, they are pulling one of two bodies out of the lake.

37 so far this year.

https://news.wttw.com/2024/08/07/rip-currents-high-waves-shut-down-lake-michigan-beaches-wednesday-search-continues#:~:text=Areas around piers, boardwalks, jetties,deadliest of the five lakes.

Here is a video that came up in a quick search.

 

[disneyseniors]

Wow, Dan, that is really an eye opener! The number of deaths in 23 are amazing! I told my husband about it and he said,
( well, that's where the mafia is isn't it, LOL). Seriously that is really scary. I just watched a documentary on the Great Lakes Triangle which is in Lake Michigan where a large number of ships and planes have disappeared. I guess I won't be swimming or boating in Lake Michigan, LOL. Thanks for the great response!

 

[NotUrsula]

But, aren't you floating more out to sea while you are floating? I think that is what panics and terrifies people.

As long as the swells are relatively calm, you can keep yourself more or less in-place by paddling your arms behind you a bit like rudders; nothing strenuous, just keeping your head pointed in the right direction. Even a rest of a minute or so to reoxygenate your body helps to keep you alert and able to think. Also, assuming that you didn't make the colossal mistake of swimming completely alone, efforts will probably be made to have someone come out after you, so even if you do go out a bit further, that's better than just letting yourself go under from exhaustion.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Wow, Dan, that is really an eye opener! The number of deaths in 23 are amazing! I told my husband about it and he said,
( well, that's where the mafia is isn't it, LOL). Seriously that is really scary. I just watched a documentary on the Great Lakes Triangle which is in Lake Michigan where a large number of ships and planes have disappeared. I guess I won't be swimming or boating in Lake Michigan, LOL. Thanks for the great response!

Eliot Ness and his Untouchables cleaned that all up years ago, ha.

A big reason that Lake Michigan is as bad as it is is due to the very long distance, north to south, that allows winds to work their problems for long distances. And then at the south end of the lake you have the large, populous city of Chicago along with northwest Indiana. There are a LOT of people there, too many of who make the mistake of going into the lake when the warnings have been issued, thinking they are Superman and are impervious to the elements. The warnings are always told on the newscasts, weather reports, the beaches and lakeshore. It costs people their lives.

 

[goofyernmost]

I don't have the exact number of people, young and old, that have died on North Carolina beaches but almost every time those currents are warned, there are news reports of drownings. Rip current = R.I.P. currents in so many cases.

 

[Pooh2]

Got caught in a rip about 20 years ago.
It was terrifying!
Really thought I was done!

 

[Imzadi]

As long as the swells are relatively calm, you can keep yourself more or less in-place by paddling your arms behind you a bit like rudders; nothing strenuous, just keeping your head pointed in the right direction. Even a rest of a minute or so to reoxygenate your body helps to keep you alert and able to think. Also, assuming that you didn't make the colossal mistake of swimming completely alone, efforts will probably be made to have someone come out after you, so even if you do go out a bit further, that's better than just letting yourself go under from exhaustion.

Thanks. I'm not sure it would occur to me to paddle to stay in place while floating.

 

[Imzadi]

Our local weather person said today that a new Tropical Storm Ernesto is now churning up the waters underneath as it's heading west towards Bermuda, and then make it's way up along the coastline. She said to continue to watch for dangerous rip currents even though it seems calm right now.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Current Great Lakes numbers.

https://glsrp.org/statistics/

 

[GAN]

I’ve been at the beach quite a bit the last couple weeks since the weather has been nice and the waves are definitely up …almost every beach has had riptide warnings. Only experienced ocean swimmers should be much further out than their waist.