Florida Beach Deaths: How To Spot Dangerous Rip Currents

FLORIDA — A recent string of deaths tied to dangerous surf conditions at Florida's Gulf Coast beaches have experts warning even the best swimmers to stay out of the water and not risk their lives.

A total of 12 people have died in the last two weeks while swimming in the Gulf of Mexico and visiting some of Florida's most popular beaches. On Tuesday, a former NFL quarterback died while swimming in Destin. Three people died on the same day while swimming at Panama City Beach just days earlier.

• RELATED: 12 Die At Gulf Beaches In 2 Weeks, Including Ex-NFL QB

According to a database compiled by the National Weather Service, nearly every death happened when the swimmer became caught in a rip current — a powerful current that can carry people away from shore and quickly sweep them underwater if they don't know what to do.

In Panama City Beach, six of the fatalities occurred under double red flags, meaning swimming was prohibited and the water was closed to the public, according to a report. One happened on an unincorporated beach under a single red flag, meaning the beach was under a high surf hazard.

"You say you are a 'good' swimmer, an experienced swimmer, a competitive swimmer," the Bay County Sheriff's Office in Florida said in a social media statement following the deaths, "but you are no match for a rip current."

Are you planning a trip to the beach? First, know the beach conditions before you go. Knowledge — including how to spot a rip current and how to escape one — can make all the difference between life and death.

How To Spot A Rip Current

According to the National Weather Service, rip currents are strong, narrow, seaward flows of water that extend from close to the shoreline to outside the surf zone. They are found on almost any beach with breaking waves and act as "rivers of the sea," moving sand, marine organisms, and other material offshore (see the above picture.)

While officials say the best way to avoid getting caught in a rip current is always to swim near a lifeguard, a lifeguard may not always be available. The key to safety is understanding what a rip current is and how to spot one.

The following list provides tips on how to best spot rip currents:

• Spotting rip currents from an elevated position overlooking the beach is much easier. This might be from a parking lot, beach access, sand dune or headland.
• Always watch the water for several minutes as rip current conditions can change.
• Channelized rip currents are the easiest to identify as they typically appear as darker, narrow gaps of water heading offshore between areas of breaking waves and whitewater. They can appear as darker paths heading out through the surf, so look for gaps in the lines of breaking waves.
• Look for narrow regions of choppy, rippled water heading offshore. Waves moving toward shore may steepen due to opposing offshore rip current flows, leading to a different surface water texture.
• Look for plumes of sand or foam offshore of the breakers, often moved away from shore by rip currents.
• Some types of rips, such as flash rips, can appear as narrow sections of turbulent whitewater heading offshore.
• Wear polarized sunglasses to help identify contrasting colors in the water — deep rip current channels stand out as darker water.
• Ask a lifeguard if there are any rip currents and to point them out for you.

Check out this National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration video on spotting a channelized rip current. See more photos of examples of rip currents.

How To Escape A Rip Current

Here's what National Weather Service officials say swimmers should do if they find themselves caught in a rip current:

• Relax. Rip currents don't pull you under.
• Do not try to swim against a rip current — it will only use up your energy, which you need to survive and escape the rip current.
• Do not try to swim directly toward the shore. Swim along the shoreline until you escape the current's pull. When free from the pull of the current, swim at an angle away from the current toward shore.
• If you can't reach shore, relax, face the shore, and call or wave for help.
• If possible, only swim at beaches with lifeguards.
• If you choose to swim on beaches without a lifeguard, never swim alone. Take a friend and have that person take a cell phone so that person can call 911 for help.