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During the 87th Regular Legislative Session, I introduced House Concurrent Resolution 46 which designates April as Beach Safety & Rip Current Awareness Month. The purpose of this month is to bring attention to rip currents and safety at the beach. I would like to take this opportunity to educate and spread awareness for beach safety.
According to the United States Lifesaving Association, rip currents are channelized currents of water flowing from shores. These currents are immensely powerful and typically form at breaks in sandbars, jetties, and piers. Rip currents are dangerous because they pull people away from the shore and from moment to moment the speeds of the currents can change quickly. On average, rip current speeds are 1-2 feet per second but can be as fast as eight feet per second. Being aware of rip currents and looking for clues in the water can be lifesaving. Some tips regarding rip currents are to look for a channel of churning and choppy water and breaks in the wave patterns, a line of foam, seaweed, or debris moving seaward. If you get caught in a rip current here are some steps to take: Don’t fight the current, swim out of the current or parallel to the shore, then towards the shore. If you can’t escape, float or tread water. If you need help, yell, and wave for assistance. Read the full article.
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