Beach Flag Warning System
The Town flies these flags at both Regional Beach Access facilities (which are served by lifeguards in the summer months), and on all Town beach patrol vehicles patrolling and providing services on the beach strand. Please look for these warning flags on our beaches and know what they mean, so that you can avoid hazards and have a safe and enjoyable beach experience in Emerald Isle.
from ww.emeraldisle-nc.org
How to Survive a Rip Current
Stay calm and do not panic. Rip currents pull you away from the shore, they don’t pull you under the water.
Your natural instinct may be to try to swim back to shore…but DO NOT swim against the current. Trying to swim against a rip current will only exhaust your energy; energy you need to survive and escape the rip current.
The best way to survive a rip current is to first relax and float. If you feel you can safely swim, you may be able to escape by swimming out of the current in a direction following the shoreline, or toward breaking waves, then at an angle towards the beach.
If at any time you feel you will be unable to reach shore, do whatever you can to draw attention to yourself. Face the shore, wave your arms, and yell for help.
How do you help someone else? Don’t become a victim while trying to help someone else! Many people have died trying to rescue rip current victims.
Get help from a lifeguard.
If a lifeguard is not present, call 9-1-1, then try to direct the victim to swim following the shoreline to escape.
If possible, throw the rip current victim something that floats.
Never enter the water without a flotation device.
