A rip current is a fast-moving, narrow channel of water that can move either along the shoreline or away from shore, taking swimmers with it.
If you get caught in a rip current, stay calm and don’t try to swim against it; swim across it instead, then swim to shore once you’re out of it.
If you can’t swim across it, ride it out by floating on your back, facing the shore, and when you reach the end of the current, swim to shore well clear of it. If you are too tired to swim, wave your arms and call for help.
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