Danger of rip currents: what to do if you are being carried away from the shore
A tragic incident occurred on September 14 at Hon Rom Beach in Mui Ne. Two women, who decided to swim in the sea after selling seafood, were caught in a dangerous current and drowned. Witnesses found them in the water and tried to help, but the women could not be saved. At the same time, the sea looked fairly calm at the moment of the incident, and there were no high waves. Local fishermen reported that there was a strong rip current beneath the surface of the water.
A rip current is a directed flow of water that moves from the shore toward the open sea. It can occur even when there are no strong waves on the surface, so the calm appearance of the sea does not always mean safe swimming conditions. Such currents can carry a person a considerable distance from the shore and pose a danger even to strong swimmers.
The main rule if you get caught in a rip current is not to try to swim straight back to shore against the flow. This quickly drains your strength and can lead to panic and exhaustion. If you feel that the current is carrying you away from shore, you need to stay calm and swim parallel to the shoreline until you manage to get out of the current. After that, you can gradually move toward the shore at an angle.
If you cannot get out of the current on your own, you should stay afloat or calmly paddle with your legs to conserve energy, and signal for help — wave your arms and call for lifeguards. A rip current carries a person away from shore, but by itself it does not pull them underwater.
It can be difficult to identify a current from the shore. Possible signs include an area of water where the waves behave differently than nearby, a line of foam or debris moving toward the sea, as well as a noticeable change in the color of the water. However, a current is not always visible, so if in doubt, it is better to ask lifeguards about sea conditions or avoid swimming.
Tourists are advised to choose equipped beaches where lifeguards are on duty, pay attention to warning signs and flags, and not enter the water in unfavorable conditions. It is also not advisable to try to rescue a person being carried away by a current on your own without flotation aids: rescue operations should be handled by specialists.
The incident at Hon Rom once again shows that danger in the sea may be invisible from the shore. Even with small waves, it is worth assessing the condition of the water before swimming and choosing places where safety is monitored by lifeguards.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hai-phu-nu-ban-hai-san-tu-vong-do-duoi-nuoc-o-bien-mui-ne-185260914193914048.htm Source: https://www.weather.gov/safety/dangerous-currents
