A rip is a strong current of water running out to sea. They are formed by a buildup of water washing onto the beach, which needs to find its way back out to sea. The force of water forms a channel called a
Rips are a major cause of swimmer difficulties.

Common Signs of a rip are:
Discolored brown water due to sand that has been stirred up off the bottom.
Foam on the surface extending beyond the break
Waves breaking further out on both sided of the Rip
Debris floating seaward
A rippled appearance where the surrounding water is generally calm

Types of rips
1. Permanent
A permanent rip will remain in the same area for months or even years due to little change in the sea bottom and prevailing conditions. Permanent fixtures, such as drainage pipes and piers, can also cause rips.
1. Fixed
A fixed rip can last from hours to months. It is accompanied by a hole or gully in the sand on the sea floor.
2. Flash
A flash rip will appear suddenly and usually without warning. It is caused by a large build up of water in a short period of time. The outward pull is usually intense and short lived.
3. Traveling
A traveling rip moves along a beach propelled by a strong current from the shore.

What to do if you are caught in a rip

• Remain calm and tread water, Float,  dont fight the rip, float or swim accross in a diagonal direction – do not try to swim against the rip
• Raise one hand straight up in the air to signal for assistance
• Remain calm and wait for a Lifeguard
• If you are a strong swimmer – swim parallel to the shore for 30 – 40 meters taking at least 20 strokes rest; repeat this if needed to get out of the rip, then swim to the shore lying flat on the surface, using breaking waves and white water to push you in.

Rip forming out to Sea

Disclaimer:
While information presented here is believed to be accurate, no assurance can be provided. In any event, Surfcoach does not accept liability for any decisions made or actions taken on the basis of this information.

MUST READ – SURF AWARENESS COURSES

While attending the APOLA ( Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguard Association) conference last week 1^st to the 4^th of May 2012. I spoke to Rob Fembock,  University Home-stay Network after he gave his presentation to the delegates. I mentioned how we (SURFCOACH) also educate foreign students on the Gold Coast and other groups through the local Gold Coast City Council and SURFCOACH on water safety and survival skills in the surf, and we can also issue competent groups with an accredited APOLA certificates. Because we have similar difficulty getting the message of surfing awareness across the board to all foreign students with a combination of theory and a practical session I asked Rob Fembrock to send me his story from before the drowning and what caused them to make the course compulsory.
True Story:
I started working at Campus East College in June 2009 and having been an active SLSA member previously was quite shocked that there didn’t seem to be a real emphasis on surf safety for the students that lived here. In 2008 a Saudi student who lived at another University of Wollongong college went swimming at City Beach, Wollongong at approximately 2am after a night out celebrating his 25th birthday, he was caught in a rip and regrettably they never found his body. The colleges and the university have always held surf safety talks or even practical sessions using SLSA members or even the local surf school but they have not been very effective as they are not compulsory and the students that most need the information such as internationals and rural residents did not see this as a necessary session to attend.

At Campus East we always had a local surf club come in to give a surf safety talk and also to recruit members that were interested in doing their bronze medallion and maybe even rowing boats etc, this was informative however we would get between 10-20 to come to the session and maybe half that would do the training, again missing the internationals or rural students with little or no experience in the ocean and in my opinion the most in need these skills.

On the 23^rd March 2011 one of our residents George drowned off the beach directly opposite our college, he had intended to go for a surf and decided to leave his board on the beach and go for a swim as the waves were too big, unfortunately he was quickly caught in a  rip and even though fellow residents found George and tried to resuscitate him he could not be revived. George was a person that knew everyone, it is not an exaggeration to say he knew every person at Campus East and his death was devastating for the entire community, testament to this was that over 300 Campus East residents travelled 6hrs each way on a bus to be at his funeral and well over 500 people attended George’s funeral. After the funeral we looked at what we could do better and decided that we would look at further educating people of the dangers of the ocean and most importantly what they need to do in order to survive  if they are caught in a rip.

In February this year we made the entire 616 residents attend the Surf Awareness session as part of their orientation which was a 40 minute presentation and about 1 ½ hrs of practical, where each student had the opportunity to experience a rip and by the end of the session, be able to identify a rip and the safest place to swim at our local beach. The feedback has been excellent ranging from ‘very useful’ to ‘this is a must’ and they hope we continue to make this a compulsory session as people learned many tips and skills to firstly avoid being caught in a rip and if they are how to float and not panic.

The lifeguards have commented that the entire culture of the Campus East residents changed this year after the sessions, the residents were now observing the conditions identifying the rips and walking to safer swimming options , most they noted were now swimming between the flags. Previously the residents would walk down to the beach drop their towel and swim directly were they were and often they would start swimming right in a rip as there were fewer waves and they felt thought this was safer.

The program  will continue and run every six months, I believe this training is absolutely essential for all university students. SURFCOACH to supply sessions to the University and Home-stay Network for all incoming foreign student.
It is important that we look at this as a compulsory SURF SURVIVAL session.
Includes 40 minutes presentation and 1.5 hours practical survival session.
The cost $30 per student (a small price to pay for a life) Participation in this course it is not a pass or fail examination.

SURFCOACH is a provider of APOLA (Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguard Association) Courses  
Recognises Local Government Councils, (in cooperation with their respective State and/or Territory and Federal Government agencies) as the controlling authorities in aquatic safety and beach management.

For more detail information on Courses
Email Coach@Surfcoach.net.au
Trudy or Stuart on 0432 908977 or 0421 416482
Our website: www.surfcoach.net.au
All our programs are Recognised and Supported by GCCC & GCC Lifeguard Service
                                                                   

Professional Lifeguards — Amazing Rescues

Did you know that the GCCC Profesional Lifegaurd Service Patrol 38 Gold Coast Beaches 12 months of the year
Surf Life Saving have 20 beaches on weekends and public/School holidays 7.5 months per year.

• LIFEGUARD EMERGENCY CALL OUT NUMBER    0414 180 986
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COMMENCING  November 2012 to February 2013
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JUNE SCHOOL HOLIDAY BEACH CAMP
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   Free FAMILY SURF SAFETY & BEACH ACTIVITIES COMMENCING  November 2012 to February 2013 8.30 am to 10.00 am