NOUS42 KCHS 031057
PNSCHS
GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040-042>045-047>051-031800-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
500 AM EDT MON JUN 4 2007

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...AS THIS WILL TIRE YOU 
OUT. EVEN EXPERIENCED SWIMMERS WILL BECOME TIRED IF TRYING TO SWIM 
AGAINST THE STRONG 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.

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

AT OTHER TIMES THERE MAY BE 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 THAT 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 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.

JOIN US AGAIN TOMORROW FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RIP CURRENTS.  

$$