Agencies provide tips to avoid rip currents during Fourth of July beach festivities

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Heading to the beach for the Fourth of July holiday? The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Weather Service have plenty of tips to help you stay safe and avoid rip currents.

Whether you’re heading to Virginia Beach, Outer Banks or another location, both agencies have tips to help keep you safe from rip currents, which can occur anywhere that breaking waves are present.

Rip currents are strong, narrow flows of water that extend from close to the shoreline to outside of the surf zone, according to the National Weather Service.

According to the department, beachgoers should check beach advisories before going in, always swim on the beach with lifeguards and learn how to spot a rip current .

When looking for a rip current, the service said you should look for regions of choppy, rippled water heading offshore. There may be gaps in the lines of breaking waves, and plumes of sand or foam traveling toward the sea.

If you’re caught in a rip current, the department recommends taking the following steps :

• Relax, as rip currents don’t pull you under.
• Don’t swim against the current.
• Swim out of the current, then to shore.
• If you can’t escape, float or tread water.
• If you need help, yell or wave for assistance.

For more information about the phenomena, visit the National Weather Service’s website .

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