NOUS42 KCHS 050909
PNSCHS
GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040-042>045-047>051-060900-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
500 AM EDT TUE JUN 5 2012

...RIP CURRENT AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES...

TODAYS TOPIC FOR RIP CURRENT AWARENESS WEEK IS...WHAT TO DO IF 
CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT.

IF YOU ARE SWIMMING IN THE OCEAN AND FEEL YOURSELF BEING PULLED OUT 
TO SEA...IT IS POSSIBLE THAT YOU ARE CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT. THE 
BEST ADVICE IS TO REMAIN CALM. DO NOT PANIC. THINK CLEARLY...AND 
DEFINITELY DO NOT FIGHT AGAINST THE CURRENT. DOING THIS WILL TIRE
YOU OUT. EVEN EXPERIENCED SWIMMERS WILL BECOME TIRED IF TRYING TO
SWIM AGAINST THE STRONG RIP CURRENT.

THE BEST METHOD FOR ESCAPING THE RIP CURRENT IS TO SWIM PARALLEL
TO THE BEACH. THIS ALLOWS YOU TO GET OUT OF THE FORCE OF THE
SEAWARD PULL OF THE RIP CURRENT. ONCE FREE...YOU CAN SWIM BACK TO
SHORE.

HOWEVER...IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CURRENT...IT IS 
RECOMMENDED THAT YOU FLOAT OR CALMLY TREAD WATER. ALTHOUGH YOU
WILL BE AT A FURTHER DISTANCE FROM SHORE...YOU WILL EVENTUALLY
REACH AN AREA WHERE THE EFFECTS OF THE RIP CURRENT HAVE DISSIPATED.
ONCE HERE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SWIM AT AN ANGLE BACK TO SHORE.

IF YOU ARE STILL UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE RIP CURRENT OR ARE
HAVING TROUBLE GETTING BACK TO THE BEACH...DRAW ATTENTION TO
YOURSELF BY WAVING YOUR ARMS AND YELLING FOR HELP.

REMEMBER...YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SWIM AT A BEACH THAT HAS LIFEGUARDS OR 
A BEACH PATROL. 

OTHER TIMES SOMEONE ELSE MAY BE CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT. YOU
SHOULD NOT GO INTO THE WATER TO HELP THAT PERSON...BECAUSE YOU TOO
COULD BECOME CAUGHT. INSTEAD GET IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE FROM THE
LIFEGUARDS OR BEACH PATROL. IF THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE CALL 9 1 1.

FIND SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP THE RIP CURRENT VICTIM STAY 
AFLOAT...SUCH AS A LIFE JACKET...A PLASTIC COOLER...A ROPE OR AN 
INFLATABLE OBJECT...AND THROW THAT TO THEM.

YELL INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO ESCAPE...MAKING SURE TO TELL THEM TO 
REMAIN CALM AND NOT FIGHT AGAINST THE CURRENT.

REMEMBER...MANY PEOPLE DROWN WHILE TRYING TO SAVE SOMEONE ELSE FROM 
A RIP CURRENT. DO NO LET THAT HAPPEN TO YOU.

$$