Buffalo and Oswego, NY, June 6, 2012 - There are rip currents in the Great Lakes. In this clip from Minnesota Sea Grant, it's important for swimmers to know how to escape these narrow channels of water.

The United States Lifesaving Association estimates that the annual number of deaths from these deadly currents exceeds 100. Rip currents account for over 80% of rescues performed by surf beach lifeguards. In the Great Lakes, each year up to 30 people drown in the Great Lakes due to rip currents.

New York's residents nearby Lakes Ontario and Erie are encouraged to learn how to survive these currents before going to the beach this summer.

Rip Current resources can be found via Sea Grant's parent organization, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as well as New York Sea Grant (NYSG).  Additionally, Minnesota Sea Grant has some great resources.

New York Sea Grant (NYSG), a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York, is one of 32 university-based programs under the National Sea Grant College Program (NSGCP) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The NSGCP engages this network of the nation’s top universities in conducting scientific research, education, training and extension projects designed to foster science-based decisions about the use and conservation of our aquatic resources. Through its statewide network of integrated services, NYSG has been promoting coastal vitality, environmental sustainability, and citizen awareness about the State’s marine and Great Lakes resources since 1971.