'Life-Threatening Rip Currents' Warning For LI This Week: Tips

LONG ISLAND, NY — South Shore beaches from Nassau to the East End of Long Island are under a high alert for rip currents through Thursday. The dangerous currents can pull even the strongest swimmers out to see, so knowing what to do to avoid and escape rip currents could be life-saving knowledge.

Cary Epstein is a Jones Beach lifeguard and EMT who stresses that the most important ocean safety tip is to always swim when lifeguards are nearby. Many tragic deaths on Long Island occur when there is no lifeguard on duty, like last week's fatal incident in Long Beach.
Epstein says swimmers should always be cognizant of their own abilities and err on the side of caution.

"Know your limits. When in doubt, don’t go out," he advises.

Rip currents are fast-moving narrow channels of water that can form on any beach. The danger is that they don't pull you under, but pull you directly out to sea.

"Don’t panic," Epstein cautions.

If caught in a rip current swim parallel to shore. Try to relax and float as much as possible, and not tire yourself out swimming against the current. Alert people on shore that you need help by yelling or waving if you cannot swim out of the current.

The National Weather Service's warning advises all swimmers to stay out of the surf zone for the next two days on all Nassau and Suffolk ocean beaches:

"Life-threatening rip currents are likely for all people entering the surf zone. Anyone visiting the beaches should stay out of the surf. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water."