Dangerous Rip Currents for South Jersey's Labor Day Weekend

Lifeguards up and down the Jersey Shore will be on full alert right through the long Labor Day weekend due to rough surf and dangerous rip currents.

According to 6ABC.com, there are several tropical storms in the Atlantic that are making the surf extremely dangerous, even though the storms are several hundred miles away from us.

Plus, beaches will be short of lifeguards since many of them already have left for school. My son, Josh is a lifeguard and he is always pointing out rip currents in the water to me. He’s already had to assist a couple of swimmers who got caught in a dangerous rip this past weekend before he left for school. Never swim alone or on an unprotected beach.

A rip current can be very dangerous if you’re not careful. Rip currents can occur along any coastline that features breaking waves.

Here are some safety tips from NOAA on how to beat the pull of a rip current:

If you are caught in a rip current, stay calm and don’t fight the current.
Swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current. Once you are free, turn and swim toward shore.
If you can’t swim to the shore, float or tread water until you are free of the rip current and then head toward shore.
If you feel you can’t make it to the shore, draw attention to yourself by waving and calling for help.
Stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties. Permanent rip currents often exist near these structures.
If someone is in trouble in the water, get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1.Throw the victim something that floats – a lifejacket, cooler, inflatable ball and yell instructions on how to escape the current.

Dangerous Rip Currents for South Jersey’s Labor Day Weekend