Cape Town - The National Sea Rescue institute has warned holidaymakers at the coast to be extremely careful of rip currents, as the full moon spring tide builds up to Christmas Day.
One of this month’s two spring tides falls on Christmas Day, when many people go to the beach, NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon said.
And as the extra high tide brought this week by the growing full moon builds, so too does the power of the many rip currents along the coast.
“The full moon spring tide will peak on Christmas Day. And between now and Christmas Day high tide will gradually get higher each day and low tide will gradually get lower each day,” Lambinon said.
“It will be building up to a peak on Christmas Day and these higher-than-normal high tides and the lower-than-normal low tides will last for at least the next 10 days.
“Stronger than normal rip currents will be experienced around the coastline during this period.”
Lambinon explained that there are two types of rip current – one type can move as the seabed changes, while others remain in place, especially near permanent features such as pier heads or rock formations.
“Essentially, it is just that we want people to be careful and make sure they can identify rip currents in order to stay out of danger,” Lambinon said.
Rip current are caused after water flows in towards the beach over shallow water or sandbanks as waves.
To get back out to sea it often forms a rip – or “river” of water – between two sand banks or any other structure in the water.
According to the NSRI, rips are able to develop where there are breaking waves, these “rivers” of current produced by water draining from the beach and back out to sea happen all the time.
Often rips move so slowly they are barely detected. But they can develop into currents moving at speeds of up to two metres a second – faster than people can swim. Ranging in size from just a few metres to hundreds of metres, they can pull people to just outside the breaking waves, as far as more than 200m from shore.
Avoiding rips altogether is safest. Though not always visually detectable – stronger rip currents can give off some tell-tale signs.
These include water through a surf zone that is a different colour than the surrounding water, a break in the incoming pattern of waves, seaweed or debris moving out through the surf zone or isolated turbulent and choppy water in the surf zone.
The NSRI advised that people should swim only where lifesavers were on duty. Where they were not on duty, bathers should not go deeper than knee-deep.
“If you are caught in a rip current the primary thing to do is to stay calm and relax,” the NSRI said. “You are not going to win a fight with the ocean. Swim slowly and conservatively parallel to the shoreline or relax and let it carry you out past the breakers until it slacks.”
Contrary to popular belief, rip currents are not a so-called “undertow,” which is a misleading term. They will not pull you under the water. As long as you can tread water or float, you will be safe until you can escape the flow and head back to the beach.
When you head back in, do so at an angle to the shoreline. Again, maintain a slow and relaxed pace until you reach the shore or assistance arrives. If you are swimming at a beach where lifesavers are on duty – and you should be – they will most likely have seen you and will be on their way out to help.
Other tips include
talking to the lifesavers about local hazards before getting in the water and never swimming alone.
Netcare 911 also advised all parents and child minders to be aware of all water hazards in and around the home, including fish ponds, swimming pools, toilets, baths and open drains.
Since the beginning of the festive season, Netcare 911 has seen an increase in calls relating to drownings and water-related emergency incidents, a spokesman said.
“Drowning is listed as one of the top causes of unnatural death among children in South Africa. At the same time, these unfortunate events are easily preventable.”
Cape Argus
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