As residents flock to the Town of Hempstead’s beautiful ocean beaches during the heart of the Atlantic hurricane season, Supervisor John Ferretti and the Hempstead Town Board are teaming with the award-winning TOH Lifeguard Squad to launch a Riptide Safety Awareness program to help keep swimmers safe.
Recently, a few miles to the east, at a Suffolk County beach, a family of five was rescued by lifeguards after nearly being swept out to sea by a dangerous riptide. What’s more, during Monday’s severe weather, town beaches are “red-flagged” and closed to swimmers for several hours due to rip-current warnings.
Today, Ferretti and the TOH lifeguard team remind residents that this incident can occur at any moment, even on a pristine day, and beachgoers should remain vigilant and prepared if confronted with a dangerous rip current in the ocean.
“On a seemingly normal, sunny day while cooling off in the ocean, a riptide can strike at any moment,” Ferretti says. “While we are proud to have one of the most elite lifeguard teams on the East Coast patrolling our waters, we want beachgoers to understand the dangers of rip currents, while also learning these important safety precautions that could potentially save a life.”
Supervisor Ferretti is joined by Deputy Supervisor Dorothy Goosby, Councilman Dennis Dunne, Sr., Councilman Tom Muscarella, Councilwoman Missy Miller, Councilwoman Laura Ryder, Councilman Chris Schneider, Town Clerk Kate Murray, and Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll, along with the town’s prestigious lifeguard team, to provide safety tips and a live demonstration on proper ocean rescue in the wake of a potentially deadly rip current.
If caught in a rip current:
Relax; rip currents don’t pull you under.
Don’t swim against the current.
Swim out of the current, then to shore.
If you can’t escape, float or tread water.
If you need help, yell or wave for assistance.
Other Safety Tips
Know how to swim.
Never swim alone.
If in doubt, don’t go out.
Swim near a lifeguard.
Rip currents are powerful, channeled currents of water flowing away from shore. Typically, rip currents extend from the shoreline, through the surf zone and past the line of breaking waves. Rip currents can occur at any beach with breaking waves … at any time.
The brochure also reminds residents that many people drown while trying to save others from a rip current and urges them to remain safe by getting help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is unavailable, the brochure recommends having someone call 911 and, from the land, throwing the victim something that floats and/or yelling instructions on how to escape.
Copies of the Town of Hempstead Riptide Safety Brochure are available at town beach entry toll booths throughout the remainder of the summer, as well as on the town website at hempsteadny.gov.
“Take a few minutes to read this informative brochure,” Supervisor Ferretti says. “You will learn something new and maybe will even be able to save a life or protect your own. We want people to enjoy our beautiful beaches and enjoy the rest of their summer while, at the same time, being safe. Thank you to our Hempstead Town lifeguard team for safeguarding our shoreline and for leading this important awareness program.”
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