How to stay safe from rip currents at the beach

Up and down the coast, lifeguards are rescuing people from dangerous rip currents. One man in Volusia County even died after being pulled from the water.

Here are some tips for dealing with rip currents at the beach.

  1. Look at the water color. Murky colored water in a line close to shore could be a rip current.
  2. During mid to low tide, look for a 'V' or 'U' shaped cutout in the sand, which can be carved out by a rip current.
  3. Look for a break in the waves. Away from the shore, rip currents can lower the surf.
  4. Check the beach for rip current signs and the red flags at the lifeguard towers. These will indicate the potentially dangerous conditions. 
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