Emergency Actions and Rip Currents

If an emergency occurs in an area not covered by a lifeguard, call 911. It's always safest to "Swim with the Lifeguards". Look for guards at Casino Beach, Park East and the Ft. Pickens areas.

Rip currents are narrow channels of water flowing out past the surf zone that can pull even strong swimmers into deep water beyond the offshore sand bar.

If caught in a rip current, do not panic! Try to escape a rip current by moving sideways across it; that is, parallel to the shore. If the current is too strong, let it carry you further away from shore and it will weaken. Then swim back to shore at an angle away from the rip current.