When the red flags are waving with the warning of rip currents, it does not mean only one rip current. It means numerous ones that you may not be able to easily spot from shore. The pictures below illustrate how rip currents can be along side each other and why it is impossible to swim around them.
When entering water, many people may choose to go where there is a break in the oncoming waves. But that's the deadly spot. The rip current will drag you out faster than you can scream help.
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Experts will tell you to stay calm and swim parallel to the shore until you can break free. But look at the pictures. Do you see how far you have to swim to break free from more than dozens of rip currents?
Don't be dumb. The flags are up for a reason.
Photo courtesy of Bay County Sheriff's Office pilot Cpl. Wade Boan.
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