HOME FORECAST PAST WEATHER SAFETY INFORMATION EDUCATION NEWS SEARCH ABOUT Safety National Program How to Avoid Getting Caught in a Rip Current Weather.gov > Safety > How to Avoid Getting Caught in a Rip Current Rip Current Safety Surf Forecasts Before the Beach At the Beach Surviving a Rip Help others stay safe with our Rip Current Toolkit! Surf/Rip Resources For The MediaBeach SafetyFrequently Asked QuestionsEducation and TrainingRip Current PhotosSigns,Videos, and Trademark PolicySurf Zone FatalitiesSurvivor StoriesRip Current Science, GlossaryKids, Teen Games and ClassesLinks, Partners, Local Resources Watch Dr. Greg Dusek discuss rip current awareness. Check water conditions before going in by looking at the local beach forecast before you leave for the beach and talking to the lifeguard at the beach. Only swim at a beach with lifeguards. The chances of drowning at a beach with lifeguards are 1 in 18 million (U.S. Lifesaving Association). Don't assume! Great weather for the beach does not always mean it's safe to swim or even play in the shallows. Rip currents often form on calm, sunny days. What are scientists doing to keep swimmers safer? Find out in this video: Predict the Rip Rip currents aren't the only deadly beach hazard. Learn more about dangerous waves and other hazards and why you should never to turn your back on the ocean. Third party sources that promote rip current and beach safety information are listed on this page and on pages on this safety website. If you are a provider of rip current or beach safety information and would like to be listed here, contact john.f.kuhn@noaa.gov or deborah.jones@noaa.gov. NWS does not endorse these non-federal sites. Any fee or payment required for service is the responsibility of the consumer. US Dept of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service Safety 1325 East West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 Comments? Questions? Please Contact Us. Disclaimer Information Quality Help Glossary Privacy Policy Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) About Us Career Opportunities