Spot a rip at Ocean Beach
Three lifesaving clubs in the Peninsula will give a lesson in surf safety in December as part of Surf Life Saving's annual Rip Current Awareness Day.
Beachgoers at Killcare, Umina and Ocean Beach will be taught about rip currents when surf life savers release fluoro dye into the surf to highlight the rip current movements.
A record number of clubs will take part this year with 100 beaches across the country, and 54 in NSW, participating in the campaign to give swimmers and onlookers an opportunity to develop a greater awareness of rip currents.
According to Surf Life Saving statistics, the number one cause of coastal drowning is people caught in rip currents.
The majority of rescues performed by surf lifesavers were due to people being caught in rip currents.
Surf Life Saving NSW lifesaving manager Mr Dean Storey emphasised the importance of greater public awareness when it comes to rip currents.
"Every summer we see thousands of beachgoers get into trouble because they can't properly identify a rip current.
"Dye releases allow us to demonstrate where rips are and how they operate.
"We want to make sure everyone knows what a rip current looks like so they can avoid them in the first place," said Storey.
Mr Storey said beachgoers needed to look out for some key indicators when it came to spotting rip currents without the aid of dye.
"Rip currents can be identified by darker channels of water with fewer breaking waves.
"Sandy-coloured water extending beyond the surf zone can also indicate the presence of a rip.
"Because these areas of water can look calm, swimmers assume it's the safest place to swim and that's when they can get themselves into a dangerous situation.
"The most important thing beachgoers can do to avoid rips is to swim between the red and yellow flags.
"Surf lifesavers place the flags in safer areas, away from rip currents.
"Also look out for safety signs on the beach which will alert you to the presence of a known rip current.
"And if beachgoers are in doubt, they simply shouldn't go out into the surf," said Mr Storey.
Media release, 31 Oct 2012
Donna Wishart, Surf Life Saving NSW