Kurt
Admin
Surf is getting rough out there! 10 Swimmers have been pulled from rip currents in Pensacola today.
[FONT="](Santa Rosa Beach) ? [/FONT][FONT="]Each year The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) designates the first full week of June as National Rip Current Awareness Week, coinciding with the traditional start of the summer vacation season.[/FONT]
[FONT="][/FONT] [FONT="]The South Walton Fire District (SWFD) would like to take this opportunity, National Rip Current Awareness Week, to heighten public awareness regarding rip currents at open water surf beaches[/FONT]
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[FONT="]A rip current is water that is moving away from shore, created by a combination of factors that include wave action, wind, coastline features and sea floor topography. The strongest rip currents can attain speeds reaching 8 feet per second; faster than an Olympic swimmer can sprint! On average, more people die every year from rip currents than from shark attacks, tornadoes or lightning. According to the United States Lifesaving Association, 80 percent of surf beach rescues are attributed to rip currents, and more than 100 people die annually from drowning in rip currents.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]In Florida, the lack of public awareness of the rip current phenomenon is responsible for the loss of at least 181 lives over the last decade, according to the National Weather Service data. The South Walton Fire District (SWFD) in partnership with the Walton County Tourist Development Council (TDC) has created a Beach Safety Program with the main focus on education and prevention. The Beach Safety Flag System informs beachgoers of the presence of, or the potential, for rip current development. SWFD strongly urges members of the public to heed the beach safety flag warnings and to always swim in front of a Lifeguard.[/FONT]
[FONT="]For more information about the Beach Safety Flag System and to view the current flag color, as well as beach conditions, please visit our website at www.swfd.org. [/FONT]
[FONT="]Rip Current Awareness Week, June 6-12, 2010
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[FONT="][/FONT] [FONT="]The South Walton Fire District (SWFD) would like to take this opportunity, National Rip Current Awareness Week, to heighten public awareness regarding rip currents at open water surf beaches[/FONT]
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]A rip current is water that is moving away from shore, created by a combination of factors that include wave action, wind, coastline features and sea floor topography. The strongest rip currents can attain speeds reaching 8 feet per second; faster than an Olympic swimmer can sprint! On average, more people die every year from rip currents than from shark attacks, tornadoes or lightning. According to the United States Lifesaving Association, 80 percent of surf beach rescues are attributed to rip currents, and more than 100 people die annually from drowning in rip currents.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]In Florida, the lack of public awareness of the rip current phenomenon is responsible for the loss of at least 181 lives over the last decade, according to the National Weather Service data. The South Walton Fire District (SWFD) in partnership with the Walton County Tourist Development Council (TDC) has created a Beach Safety Program with the main focus on education and prevention. The Beach Safety Flag System informs beachgoers of the presence of, or the potential, for rip current development. SWFD strongly urges members of the public to heed the beach safety flag warnings and to always swim in front of a Lifeguard.[/FONT]
[FONT="]For more information about the Beach Safety Flag System and to view the current flag color, as well as beach conditions, please visit our website at www.swfd.org. [/FONT]