What better way to spend your vacation than to visit the beach, breathe the fresh seaside air, catch some rays, and enjoy the sparkling blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean?
It's hard to beat, but this idyllic scenario can quickly turn to tragedy if you are not aware of the dangers that lie in those depths. So how do you make sure you and your family make it home in one piece? What follows are tried and true tips to stay safe at Daytona's beaches for you, your family and friends:
Make children aware of the moving car traffic on the beach, and keep your eyes on your kids
Always swim near a lifeguard
Pay attention to the warning flags posted for that day's beach conditions and hazards
Do not swim intoxicated
Never let children swim alone and unsupervised
Don't allow children on rafts and flotation devices in water over their head
Be especially aware of the dangers of rip currents
If you see someone caught in a rip current or having problems in the water, alert a lifeguard. Do not try to make the rescue yourself. It is estimated that as many as 8% of drownings may be attributed to someone trying to save someone else.
The U.S. Lifesaving Association estimates that more than 100 people die from drowning due to rip currents each year with many multiple drowning incidences. Heed the warnings and don't go into water where rip currents have been reported, or stay in very shallow water (not over your knees) and stay near the water line on the beach.
Rip currents are often incorrectly identified as "undertow." Rip currents do not pull you down. They are currents near the water's surface that carry people and other floating objects beyond the breaking waves, acting similarly to how a river current acts. The danger this poses to swimmers is multi-faceted. When swimmers realize they are being pulled further away from land they often panic and try swimming directly back to the beach. Fighting a losing battle, they tire and eventually drown due to exhaustion.
Even strong swimmers don't have the force to battle a strong rip current. In order to release yourself from the grip of a rip current, instead of trying to do a 180 degree U-turn in the water you need to swim parallel to the land until you break free from the current at which point you can then head back to the beach.
No matter how macho you may feel, never be too ashamed to call for help. A slightly bruised ego beats death any day.
The bottom line is simple. Enjoy the beach safely by practicing the tips above, and everybody will make it home.
In the diagram of a rip current you can see that once you've passed through the "Neck" of the current, the current's strength fades as you reach the "Head." The more narrow the channel (neck) of the rip current is, the stronger and faster it will be. Swimming parallel to land gets you back into the onshore flow.
So enjoy our beaches, and don't forget the sunscreen!
For more safety tips from Volusia County's Department of Beach Safety, click here.
Download the Volusia Beaches Mobile app.
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