New Rip Current Escape Technique Saves Lives: ABC7 News Report

Melbourne Beach Rip Current Safety: New Guidelines Challenge Traditional Advice Summer beachgoers in Melbourne Beach, Florida, are being urged to learn new safety guidelines for escaping rip currents. ABC7 News recently produced a video highlighting the dangers of rip currents and emphasizing the limitations of the age-old advice to swim parallel to the shore. The report features an interview with Wyatt Werneth, National Spokesperson for the National Drowning Prevention Association and Founder of Drown Zero International. Werneth stated, "They're out there every day...and surfers and watermen, we use them to our advantage to get out past the waves and enjoy them. But if you don't know and you bring your family from inland America somewhere, you can find yourself in trouble and it can be a fatal day." The video demonstrates how to identify rip currents by looking for dips in the shoreline where the water extends further onto the beach, or by spotting unusual calm patches in the water. The report also shows a demonstration of the new recommended technique: 'flip and float'. This method encourages swimmers to remain calm, conserve energy, and let the current carry them before swimming at an angle back to shore. The video emphasizes that attempting a rescue without flotation devices is extremely dangerous. The ABC7 News report serves as a critical public service announcement, educating beachgoers on how to stay safe and avoid potentially fatal situations.