How to Help Someone Caught in a Rip Current

To help someone caught in a rip current, get a lifeguard or call 911, shout to them to swim along the shoreline, and throw them something that floats. Do not swim out to them without a flotation device: the National Weather Service warns that many people have died trying to rescue someone caught in a rip current (opens in a new tab).

This is hard advice to follow when someone you love is in the water. It is also the advice that keeps one emergency from becoming two.

Step 1: Take ten seconds, then get help

The National Weather Service (NWS) says that if someone is waving or yelling for you, don't panic, take 10 seconds to assess the situation, then immediately alert a lifeguard (opens in a new tab).

In those ten seconds, ask yourself:

• Is the person unable to get back to shore? The NWS's first question is whether the person is unable to return to shore (opens in a new tab).
• Where is the nearest lifeguard? Run or shout to them and point at the person.
• If there is no lifeguard, call 9-1-1 (opens in a new tab), or have someone else call while you keep watching.

Keep your eyes on the person the whole time. If you lose sight of them, rescuers lose precious time. Tell the 911 dispatcher exactly where you are: the beach name, a street or lifeguard stand number, and what the person is wearing. Our guide to calling 911 near water has a short script.

What trouble looks like

Don't wait for screaming. CDC says drowning happens in seconds and is often silent (opens in a new tab). A retired Coast Guard rescue swimmer explains that drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help (opens in a new tab) except in rare cases.

The Red Cross says a swimmer needs help right away if they are vertical in the water but unable to move or tread water (opens in a new tab), are not moving forward, or are face down and not moving. Someone yelling and thrashing is also in real trouble and may still be able to grab something you throw. Learn the signs in what drowning looks like.

Step 2: Tell them how to escape

Shout clear, short instructions. The NWS says to advise the person to swim following the shoreline to escape the current (opens in a new tab). You can use words like:

• "Swim sideways!" with your arm pointing along the beach.
• "Float! Lie back and float!"
• "Wave! We see you. Help is coming."

People caught in a rip current often try to swim straight back to shore and wear themselves out. Floating buys time. More on why in rip currents: how to spot one and how to escape.

Step 3: Throw something that floats

The NWS says: if possible, throw the person something that floats (opens in a new tab). The Red Cross suggests a lifejacket, cooler or inflatable ball (opens in a new tab).

Good things to throw:

• A life jacket from your beach bag or a nearby boat
• A ring buoy, if the beach has one on a post
• An empty cooler with the lid closed
• A boogie board or a big ball

Throw it so it lands within their reach, then shout to them to hold on and float.

This is the Red Cross rule for every water rescue: reach or throw, don't go (opens in a new tab). Water Safety USA describes safe, simple rescue as reaching and throwing a flotation aid from the water's edge without entering the water (opens in a new tab). See reach or throw, don't go for the full method, including how to use a ring buoy.

Why untrained rescuers drown

It feels wrong to stand on the sand. But the current that caught one swimmer can catch a second one, who is now tired and frightened too. That is why trained lifeguards always bring something that floats.

The NWS Tallahassee office says:

• Do not attempt a rescue by forming a human chain! (opens in a new tab)
• Even lifeguards only attempt rip current rescues using a flotation device (opens in a new tab).
• Beachgoers who attempt a rip current rescue by themselves or as a human chain may end up needing to be rescued (opens in a new tab).

The Red Cross is direct: do not attempt a rescue yourself unless you are a trained beach lifeguard (opens in a new tab).

If you do go in because there is truly no other choice, take something that floats with you. The NWS says never enter the water without a floatation device (opens in a new tab), and to seek help from a lifeguard or use a floatation device if you go in the water (opens in a new tab). Hold the float out to the person so they grab it, not you.

When the person is back on the sand

Once the person is out of the water, keep 911 on the line or call if you haven't. If they are not breathing, start CPR if you are trained, or follow the dispatcher's instructions.

Even if they seem fine, watch them. Water Safety USA says anyone who has excessive coughing that does not stop, loss of consciousness even for a brief period, or needed rescue breathing or CPR (opens in a new tab) after a drowning episode should be checked by medical professionals. The same goes for chest pain, trouble breathing, confusion or unusual tiredness. Our guide to where to learn CPR explains how to get trained.

Learn rescue skills before you need them

The best time to learn is before the beach trip:

• Swim skills. The Red Cross counts "helping others" as one of the three parts of water competency (opens in a new tab).
• CPR. Water Safety USA recommends learning CPR with both chest compressions and rescue breaths (opens in a new tab).
• The beach plan. Agree as a family that nobody swims out after anyone. Everyone's job is to call, shout and throw.

The NWS also says the waves themselves can knock you down. Even experienced ocean visitors can be overcome by the power of the waves (opens in a new tab), so a guarded beach is always the first choice.

What you can do today

1. Print the Reach or Throw, Don't Go and talk through it with everyone you go to the beach with.
2. Pack a "throw bag" for the beach: a life jacket for each child, plus one spare adult life jacket you can throw.
3. Teach the three shouts: "Swim sideways! Float! Wave!"
4. Sign up for a CPR class that teaches rescue breaths.
5. Choose guarded beaches. Read why swimming near a lifeguard matters.