Rescues Surge In Ocean City Due To Rip Currents

OCEAN CITY, MD — Lifeguards have been busy in Ocean City this week, with rip currents developing and swimmers requiring rescues. On Monday alone, the Ocean City Beach Patrol reportedly made 141 rescues.

Rip currents are powerful channels of water that pull people away from shore.

Signs of a rip current include noticeable difference in water color; a break in the wave pattern; a line of debris, seaweed or foam moving away from shore; and/or a channel of water that is churning and choppy, according to the United States Lifesaving Association.

A teen who was rescued Monday told Delmarva Public Radio she had been standing in the water when she was pulled back away from shore by the waves.

All of the 141 rescues on Monday were attributed to people who needed assistance getting out of rip currents, according to the Salisbury Daily Times.

Rough surf and dangerous rip currents are anticipated over the next several days due to Tropical Storm Chris, which stalled off the Carolina coast but is still leaving an impression on the waters at area beaches.

The National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center issued this forecast Tuesday regarding the storm:

"Tropical Storm Chris is currently stalled offshore of the Carolinas and is anticipated to strengthen to a hurricane this afternoon and then track to the northeast. While much of the heaviest rainfall should stay well offshore, outer rain bands from Chris may clip the Outer Banks of North Carolina....Strong winds associated with Chris will cause dangerous surf and rip-currents up the Mid-Atlantic coast."

The Ocean City Beach Patrol advises people not to swim unless a lifeguard is on duty. The beach patrol has lifeguards on patrol every two blocks from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.

Rescues are up from this time last year, according to the beach patrol's latest weekly report.

The Ocean City Beach Patrol said its staff made 659 rescues from June 24 to July 1, compared with 38 rescues during that time period in both 2017 and 2016.

More than 100 people die in rip currents annually because they can't stay afloat due to factors like exhaustion, panic and lack of swimming skills, according to the United States Lifesaving Association.

Here's how to stay safe if you are caught in one, according to the national Rip Current Task Force:

• Swim parallel to the shore; do not try to swim toward the shore.
• By swimming parallel to shore, you are likely to get out of the rip current, which tends to be a narrow channel; then swim at an angle in to shore.
• If you feel tired or don't think you will be able to make it out of the rip current, don't panic. Stay calm and tread water, waving your arms and yelling for help while facing shore.

Though they can form anywhere, rip currents are particularly prone to areas around sandbars.

Beachgoers can check conditions from the Ocean City Beach Patrol before heading out.

Related:

• How to Get Out of a Rip Current
• MD Weather: How Tropical Storm Chris Will Affect Maryland

Still from Ocean City Beach Patrol video of lifeguard on July 9, 2018.