GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is urging beachgoers to be extra cautious of riptides, following several fatal incidents over the festive season.
This week (5-8 January) coincides with the full moon spring tide, which peaked on the full moon on Monday 5 January. This full moon spring tide caused stronger than normal rip currents around the coast and are reported to last until around 9 January.
Craig Lambinon, NSRI national spokesperson, said, "Very strong rip currents will be present around the coast. Bathers and shoreline anglers are most at risk and extreme caution is advised."
Spring tide happens twice every month, at full moon and during the new moon. This brings a higher than normal high tide and a lower than normal low tide. This causes stronger than normal rip currents for a few days leading up to the full moon and the new moon. Peaking on the day of the full moon and new moon and lasting for a few days after the full moon or new moon.
Rip currents
Rip currents are caused when the water, reaching the shoreline in waves, swells and sea currents need to find a way to retreat back into the sea.
Permanent rip currents are found alongside islands, rocky outcrops jutting into the sea, at river mouths, in between reefs and alongside harbour walls and piers. These are found constantly occurring in the same place, allowing the water reaching the shoreline to retreat back into the sea in the permanent rip current.
Temporary rip currents are found along beachfronts (along the shoreline). These are constantly changing position and are unpredictable.
A temporary rip current can form suddenly along a beachfront without warning at different places along the shore throughout the day.
During spring tide these permanent and temporary rip currents are stronger than normal and although rip currents pose a danger to bathers at all times, they pose the greatest danger during the spring tide.
Bathers are at risk of being swept out to sea by rip currents while swimming or wading in water along the beachfront. Even bathers wading in shallow water who find themselves trapped in a rip current that forms suddenly are at risk of being swept out to sea by rip currents.
Bathers caught in a rip current should not panic. They should simply stay afloat by treading water (moving arms and legs in circular movements). They should not try to swim against the current as it will only cause exhaustion and allow the current to sweep them further out to sea. At the first opportunity the bather should swim parallel to the beachfront until they are free of the rip current and then use the incoming waves to get back to shore. It is important that the distressed bather screams for help while waving an arm to alert people on the beach who in turn should raise the alarm.
Children should have responsible adult supervision at all times around coastal and inland waters and at swimming pools.
Anglers
Anglers fishing along the shoreline, particularly along rocks on the shoreline, are at greatest risk during the spring tide where incoming waves are higher than normal during the high tides.
Anglers should not turn their backs to the sea and should be vigilant and cautious of the wave action at all times while fishing.
Boaters, paddlers, sail boarders and anyone launching any kind of craft onto water should wear their life jackets at all times while on water and carry easily accessible safety equipment - red distress flares, communications cellphone or VHF radio with fully charged batteries in water tight plastic sleeves, a waterproof torch, highly visible neon coloured clothing, a referee whistle worn around the neck and a silver emergency foil blanket.
They should further let a responsible person know their time of departure, their exact intended route as well as their estimated time of return.
They should stick to their plans and check in with the responsible person on their safe return. (Should they be overdue, the responsible person should raise the alarm without hesitation).
To report a sea rescue emergency dial 112 from any cellphone.
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