Rip currents account for more than 100 deaths on the nation's beaches every year
FRANKFORT -- Rip currents can be killers. The National Weather Service says that 80% of all rescues are from rip currents and the best way to avoid them is being able to spot them before you go into the water.
The National Weather Service says heavy winds cause rough waters, and when the current pushes the water away from shore, you see rip currents.
The strongest currents can reach eight feet per second. That's way faster than a person can swim.
Rip currents account for more than 100 deaths on the nation's beaches every year. That's not just oceans, the Great Lakes are just as dangerous. Learning to identify them before you go in the water is the first step.
"For identifying rip currents what you're looking for is an area of discoloration in the water when you're looking out from shore, generally it has a cloudy experience," said National Weather Service Meteorologist Kevin Sullivan.
The U.S. Coastguard Station Frankfort says the last few days have been the strongest winds they've seen all summer.
One U.S. Coastguard Seaman was off duty Sunday and ended up saving 11 people caught in rip currents near the Frankfort station.
"The currents were really bad and the waves were worse and people didn't have life jackets on and you know, you first start out swimming fine then you become a tired swimmer and become really distressed so it's just kind of that stage of you don't want to see how far you can go," said U.S. Coastguard Seaman Tom MacArthur.
"They were good swimmers, but being a good swimmer doesn't always matter in a rip current," said U.S. Coastguard Executive Officer Andrew Bowe.
The National Weather Service says the worst thing you can do is swim alone, especially if there's no lifeguard on duty. And if you get caught in a rip current, don't fight it.
"Swim out of the current and into the shore," said Sullivan. "If you can't escape, try to float or tread water, and if you need help, try to call or wave for assistance from the shore."
When in doubt, don't go out.
