Responses of Swimmers Caught in Rip Currents: Perspectives on Mitigating the Global Rip Current Hazard

Abstract

Rip currents are a primary mecbanism on many of tbe world's beaches associated witb rescues and drownings and bave long been the focus of beacbgoer education and awareness strategies. Traditional approacbes to mitigating tbe rip current bazard typically provide information on escape procedures for beacbgoers caugbt in a rip current. Several of tbese approacbes are now being cballenged by new scientific findings leading to uncertainty and debate among scientists and beacb safety practitioners, Tbis paper suggests tbat future researcb efforts on mitigating tbe rip current bazard sbould focus on quantifying tbe pbysical and bebavioral responses of beacbgoers wbo bave been caugbt in rip currents. Descriptions of new approacbes adopted recently in Australia hy a joint collaboration between tbe University of New Soutb Wales and Surf Life Saving Australia are presented.