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Dangerous Currents
Channel currents and rip currents are both potentially dangerous currents that are found in the Great Lakes. Rip and channel currents do not pull a person under the water, but can pull a swimmer away from the shore. Depending on the weather conditions and land formations, rip currents typically flow perpendicular (at a right angle) from shore towards the lake, while channel currents generally flow parallel to shore.
Currents become dangerous when swimmers try to fight against the current or they panic. Experts believe a majority of swimming deaths have happened because people panicked when a current pulled them away from shore. Nationally, lifeguards rescue approximately 60,000 people from drowning a year, and an estimated 80 percent of those situations are caused by rip or channel currents.
Dangerous currents:
- Typically form at low spots or breaks in sandbars, and near structures such as piers.
- Can occur at any beach with breaking waves, including many on the Great Lakes.
- Can be as narrow as 10 or 20 feet wide, although are often much wider.
- Measured at 2 mph and faster are considered dangerous.
- Can exceed 5 mph – faster than an Olympic swimmer can swim.
- Begin to slow down as they move away from shore or the land formation contributing to the flow.
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Rip currents form when waves break over a sandbar near the shoreline, piling up water between breaking waves and the beach. One of the ways this water returns to sea is to form a rip current, a narrow but powerful stream of water and sand moving (ripping) swiftly away from shore.
Rip currents that vary in size and speed can be found on many beaches every day. Drowning occurs when people pulled away from shore toward the open water are unable to keep themselves afloat and cannot swim safely back to shore, resulting in drowning. This may be due to any combination of fear, panic, exhaustion or lack of swimming skills. Rip currents are particularly dangerous for weak or non-swimmers.
How to Escape a Rip Current
- Figure out which way the current is flowing.
- Flip over onto your back.
- Float to keep your head above water and conserve energy.
- Follow the current until it weakens. Rip currents dissipate quickly as they move away from the shore into deeper water. Ride it out and swim perpendicular to the current.
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A channel current flows parallel to shore, between the beach and an island. A channel current forms when the presence of a partially submerged sandbar connector between the mainland and an offshore island (tombolo) — causes the flow of water to speed up as it goes between the sandbar and the shore. A channel current looks like a river running parallel to shore.
The danger is when people are swimming near or walking along the sandbar that is extremely unstable. When the wind speed increases, the waves also increase in intensity, and this causes the current to become stronger and faster. When that happens, the swimmer can get pushed off the sandbar or swept to either side of the sandbar. Swimmers tend to panic and try to get back to the “safety” of the unstable sandbar, rather than swimming to the shore. This may eventually exhaust swimmers, resulting in drowning.
How to Escape A Channel Current:
To get out of a channel current, just like a rip current, a swimmer should figure out which way the current is flowing and swim perpendicular to it toward shore, rather than swimming back to the sandbar. Remember that the sandbar is unstable. Even if the sandbar may be closer, swim toward the shore; it’s the best route to safety.
- Flip over onto your back.
- Float to keep your head above water and conserve energy.
- Follow the current until it weakens. Ride it out, figure out which direction the water is flowing and swim perpendicular to the current, back to shore.
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Forecasts
The National Weather Service provides weather and water hazard forecasts and warnings throughout the U.S. That information can be used to make an educated decision about swimming at different times in different locations.
National Weather Service Resources:
Signs that a dangerous current may be present
- A break in the incoming wave pattern.
- A channel of churning, choppy water.
- A line of foam or debris moving seaward.
- A difference in water color.
- For channel currents, a sandbar connecting the mainland to an island.
Helping someone else
Many people have died while trying to rescue others caught in currents. Don’t become a victim yourself.
- If a lifeguard is not present, shout directions on how to escape the current.
- Throw something that floats, like a life jacket, boogie board or cooler to the person in danger.
- Call 911.
- When rescuing others, bring something that floats with you.
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