Riptide

There are specific rules regarding how one must react in order to protect themselves from harm when swimming in the ocean. Specifically I want to address the actions required when one is caught in a rip tide.

Generally defined as a strong outflow current from shore, riptides are responsible for many drownings per year.

The givers of good advice generally agree on a course of action when caught in a rip tide.

• ·       Learn and remember the plan for survival.
• ·       Take a deep breath, relax and don’t struggle against the current. The current will sweep you away from shore fairly rapidly.
• ·       When the current has dissipated, as it will eventually, orient yourself in the general direction of the shore, but not in any specific point on the shore. If you try to reach some specific point on the shore, you may well be fighting a strong current
• ·       Since the riptide may have taken you quite far out to sea, just paddle slowly and conserve your energy.
• ·       When you reach shore, you may walk to your destination.

“All this is fine”, you say, “but I am not swimming in the ocean any time soon” (me either, unfortunately); “what relevance does that have on me?”

I believe this plan not only to be a lifesaving one, but may well relate to living life itself.

·       Always have a plan

·       Relax, don’t panic; there are some things that are beyond your control.  Go with them but do not abandon the grand plan.

·       When the crisis has passed, get your relative bearings, orient yourself in the general direction of your goal, but don’t get too specific about the outcome at first.

·       Once the largest hurdles have been accomplished and you are in a more comfortable environment, you may focus more acutely on your specific goal.

I have never been caught up in a riptide. Not literally. I did learn several lessons along this swim called life, however. In almost every situation that seemly was beyond my control, when I remembered the riptide advice; the outcome seemed more within my control.