A rip current, often known as a rip tide, is a strong flow of water returning seaward from the shore. Rip currents are dangerous, and can even be deadly.

Rip currents would exist even without high and low tide. But the tides, especially low tide, can make an existing rip current much more dangerous.

• Always heed posted warnings.
• Stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties, which impede waves and encourage rip currents to form.
• Check the local newspaper and internet for tide timetables. (Be aware that tides can be substantially different at beaches relatively close to each other.)
• Never go into the water without lifeguard supervision two hours before until four hours after the daily maximum low tide, especially at night.

• If you're caught in a rip current, don't fight it — swim parallel to the shoreline in order to escape it.
• If you see someone caught in a rip current, yell and motion for him or her to swim parallel to the shoreline.
• Another way to survive a rip current is to float until it disperses into deeper waters. However, you'll end up further from shore.