Rip Current Safety

The best way to be safe on Kauai beaches is to understand the danger of rip currents, learn to identify them, and then avoid them altogether. However, if you do find yourself in a rip current, here are some tips to help save you.

Don’t fight the current
Rip current speeds are typically 1 to 2 feet per second. However, speeds as high as 8 feet per second have been measured. Since this is faster than an Olympic swimmer can sprint, rip currents can sweep even the strongest swimmer out to sea. Don’t panic, conserve energy, float, breathe, and wave for help.

Swim out of the current, then to shore
A swimmer caught in a rip current should not attempt to swim back to shore directly against the rip. This risks exhaustion and drowning. A rip does not pull a swimmer under water – it carries the swimmer away from the shore in a narrow channel of water. Swim parallel to the shoreline, and when out of the current, swim at an angle towards shore.

If you can’t escape, float or tread water
A swimmer in a strong rip, who is unable to swim away from it, should relax and calmly float or tread water to conserve energy. Eventually the rip will lose strength, and the swimmer can swim at a leisurely pace, in a direction away from the rip but back to shore.

If you need help, call or wave for assistance
Drowning deaths usually occur when people are unable to keep themselves afloat and swim back to shore. This may be due to fear, panic, exhaustion, a lack of swimming skills, or any combination of these factors. Wave your hands for help and wait for assistance.

The United States Lifesaving Association estimates that rip currents account for over 80% of rescues performed by surf beach lifeguards. They have also calculated that the chance a person will drown while attending a beach protected by USLA affiliated lifeguards is 1 in 18 million.

Check our Kauai Surf Report.