Another South Jersey Heat Wave
The sweltering summer of 2012 continues. The National Weather Center has issued a heat advisory until 8PM tonight. Certain inland areas of South Jersey are under a excessive heat warning.
There is some relief at the beach. Strong winds and waves are creating a high risk of rip currents along the entire Jersey coast.
How to Identify Rip Currents: Look for any of these clues:
- a channel of churning, choppy water
- an area having a notable difference in water color
- a line of foam, seaweed, or debris moving steadily seaward
- a break in the incoming wave pattern
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility at Duck, NC. United States Lifeaving Assoc |
- Never swim alone.
- Be cautious at all times, especially when swimming at unguarded beaches. If in doubt, don’t go out!
- Whenever possible, swim at a lifeguard protected beach.
- Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards.
- If caught in a rip current, remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
- Don’t fight the current. Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
- If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
- If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself: face the shore, wave your arms, and yell for help.
- If you see someone in trouble, get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1 . Throw the rip current victim something that floats and yell instructions on how to escape. Remember, many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current.
Click here for more beach saftey tips.