How to Swim in Currents

Video Transcript

PHILLIP TORIELLO: Hi this is Phillip Toriello and this section is how to swim in currents. As a lifeguard for eight years at the beach in Avila, I have learned a lot about the currents. While we do not have heavy surf condition,; we tend to get currents towards the middle of the summer, which involves the tide pulling out and the swell moving in at the same time. Usually you will notice these at your local beach where there is bubbling or kind of churning pockets of water. The water will be sooty, there will be a lot of dirt in a given area like if you look at your whole beach and you are kind of surveying it, you will notice that in a patch of your beach there will soot and dirt kind of piling up and it is kind of churning around; this is what would be a rip current. The best way to swim through these is to either ride it out if you are caught in the middle so swim out with the current because it will help pull you out and then swim off to the side. Basically there will be a big mushroom head at the top of the current which will be the end of it and then you can just swim to the side, or if you are caught in the middle of it, it is best just to swim to the left or to the right but never try swimming in towards the shore inside the current as it will be pulling you out, you will become more tired, and eventually get into a bad situation where a lifeguard or a harbor patrol individual will have to come get you. So remember, when swimming in currents, either swim out with the current until you feel it stop, or if you are in the middle of the current just swim to the left or to the right or parallel toward shore and then swim back toward the shore. To learn more about this, please contact your local beach lifeguard or go online to find out more.