Stony Brook, NY, June 5, 2012 - Heading to the beach soon? When going in for a swim, be alert to the signs of rip currents. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Sea Grant College Program remind you during this, Rip Current Awareness Week (June 3-9, 2012), not to get dragged out to sea.


NOAA photo: A rip current, as seen from the beachgoer's perspective.


New York Sea Grant provides online rip currents education resources for beachgoers (click here), including safety tips as well as related news, publications and media clippings. In addition, NOAA has a collection of resources at www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov, which includes a brief but informative video clip that puts the ocean in the swimmer's visual perspective and gives you a couple easy tips on how to "Break the Grip of the Rip" and escape from a rip current:

*Your first line of defense is to read the surf forecast BEFORE you head to the beach. NOAA's National Weather Service is your first stop for this critical safety information: www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/forecasts.shtml

*And remember: Your chances of surviving a rip current -- or any other beach-related hazard -- are greatly increased if you're swimming off a beach staffed by lifeguards.



NYSG YouTube source link | Original source link

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.