NOUS42 KCHS 050957 PNSCHS GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040-042>045-047>051-052200- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 557 AM EDT MON JUN 5 2006 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...THE BEST ADVICE IS TO REMAIN CALM. DO NOT PANIC. THINK CLEARLY...AND DEFINITELY DO NOT FIGHT AGAINST THE CURRENT...AS THIS WILL TIRE YOU OUT. EVEN EXPERIENCED SWIMMERS WILL BECOME TIRED IF TRYING TO SWIM AGAINST THE RIP CURRENT. A GOOD METHOD FOR ESCAPING THE RIP CURRENT IS TO SWIM PARALLEL TO THE BEACH. THIS WILL ALLOW YOU TO GET OUT OF THE FORCE OF THE SEAWARD PULL OF THE RIP CURRENT. ONCE FREE...YOU SHOULD SWIM BACK TO SHORE. 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 TO THE BEACH...DRAW ATTENTION TO YOURSELF BY WAVING YOUR ARMS AND YELLING FOR HELP. ALWAYS SWIM AT A BEACH THAT HAS LIFEGUARDS OR A BEACH PATROL. ALSO THERE MAY BE A TIME WHERE SOMEONE ELSE IS IN TROUBLE BECAUSE OF A RIP CURRENT. DO NOT BECOME A VICTIM OF THE RIP CURRENT YOURSELF BY GOING INTO THE WATER AFTER THE PERSON WHO IS 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 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 NOT LET THAT HAPPEN TO YOU. BE HERE AGAIN TOMORROW FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RIP CURRENTS. $$