In the wake of the tragic drowning death of former NFL player Ryan Mallett recently, plus a spate of drownings at Florida’s Panama City Beach, Fox News Digital reached out to water safety experts in order to share tips with others to help prevent trips to the beach from ending in tragedy.
The experts shared a range of advice and insights.
The tips include the following:
BE WELL: PREVENT DROWNING WITH THESE CHILD SAFETY WATER TIPS
Read on to learn more.
"The first thing every beachgoer should do is pay attention to the conditions of the beach when you arrive," Chris DeJong, a former national champion swimmer and the Atlanta-based founder of the Big Blue Swim School, a national chain of swim schools for children, told Fox News Digital.
"Make sure to check for flag warnings," he also said.
A yellow flag, said DeJong, means that rip currents are expected, while a red flag means a "dangerous" rip current is expected.
A rip current, which is also called a riptide, is defined as "channelized currents of water flowing away from shore at surf beaches," according to the website for the National Weather Service.
"Typically, they form at breaks in sandbars, and also near structures, such as jetties and piers, as well as cliffs that jut into the water," the site also noted.
DAD SPEAKS OUT ON DROWNING DANGERS AS 13-YEAR-OLD NEARLY DIES AT CAMPGROUND
"Rip currents are common and can be found on most surf beaches, including the Great Lakes and Gulf of Mexico."
Lifeguards "are trained to spot rip currents," said DeJong, and "they are trained in rip current rescues and have the necessary equipment to help."
Also, attempting to rescue someone from a rip current is very dangerous, said Dworkin.
"Leave the rescue to the professionals," he said.
RETIRED DOCTOR RETURNS TO LIFEGUARDING AFTER 50 YEARS: ‘ONE OF THE BEST JOBS’
While lifeguards are important, they are "an additional layer of protection," registered nurse Mary Jo Quintero told Fox News Digital.
She is water safety coordinator at Valley Children's Healthcare, located in California.
"The lifeguard does not take the place of adult supervision for children," she added.
A supposed calm patch of water actually could be a potentially deadly rip current, said Gerry Dworkin, a consultant with Lifesaving Resources, Inc., who is based in Maine and is an expert on water rescues and safety.
"To the untrained observer, the actual rip current appears to be calm water — when in reality it looks calm [only] because a channel has been created between the sandbars and that channel is forcing the water back out to sea," he said.
While Mallett, who perished on June 17, 2023, did not die from a rip current, Dworkin said rip currents are the cause of 80% of ocean lifeguard interventions.
"To escape a rip current, do not try to fight your way against the water flow," said Dworkin.
LIFEGUARD, 16, SAVES WOMAN FROM DROWNING FIRST WEEK ON THE JOB
Instead of fighting a rip current and attempting to swim to shore, a person should "swim parallel to shore to escape the channel, and then either float or swim back in," said Dworkin.
Staying calm and floating on your back if you're stuck in a rip current is important, DeJong also advised.
"The rip current won't pull you under. It will just pull you further away from shore," he said.
While floating, try to signal for help. "Raise both arms to attract the lifeguards' attention," said Quintero.
If someone else is caught in a rip current and you're standing on the beach, "communicate with the person," said DeJong.
"Advise the person to float or swim parallel to the shore and help keep them calm — while you call 911," he said.
"A flotation device is not guaranteed to help you or your child escape a rip current," said DeJong.
"While it can help you stay afloat, it shouldn't be used as a way to circumvent the warning flags or lack of lifeguard."
"If the open body of water is one a family is visiting, do your homework and learn about the location conditions to keep everyone water safe," said Quintero.
This is especially important if children are along on the trip.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children between the ages of one and four years old, and the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children between the ages of five and 14, said the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
"Adult supervision without any distractions such as cell phones, reading, etc. is one of the most important ‘must haves'" of any beach trip, said Quintero.
Also, remember to pick up after yourself or your family when finishing a trip to the beach.
"Leave the area better than you found it," advised Quintero.
"Keep our beaches clean and clear of litter that can be a safety hazard for humans and marine life," she added.
