How to spot a rip and stay safe in the surf this summer
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The temperature is in the high 20s, you have your sunscreen on and the car is packed for a day at the beach.
But what are the things you need to think about before hitting the surf?
Surf Life Saving Queensland safety officer Chantal Fife said one of the main traps were rips.
How to survive a rip
- To reduce the chances of being caught in a rip current, always swim between the red and yellow flags
- If you need help, stay calm, float and raise an arm to attract attention
- To escape a rip, swim parallel to the beach
- Always conserve your energy; the waves can assist you back to the beach
A rip is a current that often starts near the shore and then flows out to sea.
"There's is no doubt that rip currents are one of the biggest dangers on Australian beaches," Ms Fife said.
"Particularity if people don't know how to spot them.
"Every summer we see thousands of swimmers that get themselves into trouble because they can't identify them or they underestimate the power or strength of them."
Ms Fife said rips looked different depending on the conditions, but the most common type of rip looked like a dark path or a dark gap going out through the white water.
"When you go to the beaches you want to look for fast-moving water that's often darker," she said.
"You'll often see displacement and it will seem shallow, then it will get quite deep."
The best thing to do if caught in a rip is to stay calm.
"People need to conserve their energy by floating on the water and raising their arms to attract attention of lifeguards or passers-by," Ms Fife said.
When swimming in the ocean, Surf Live Saving Queensland suggests staying at waist height only.
"A good rule of thumb is to stay around your belly button height so you can jump over waves and duck dive down but your feet are staying on the sand," Ms Fife said.
"People often panic the minute their feet come off the sand."
She said the easiest way to stay safe over summer was to swim at patrolled beaches during patrolled times.
"It's all about safety — don't risk a rip or an area that you're unsure about or that is unknown to you.
"Make sure you tell people where you're going as well, especially if you're going to a remote location."
A new multilingual app called Beach Safe can also help beachgoers know what beaches are open and when across the country.
"It also tells you if there's any hazards or any dangers that might be on the beach," Ms Fife said.
Topics: travel-health-and-safety, accidents, lifestyle-and-leisure, human-interest, safety, brisbane-4000
