Ali Joy lost her husband, Charles, on Father's Day weekend last year when he ran into the water to save their twin daughters caught in a rip current. He died trying to rescue them. Now, Joy is spreading the word about the dangers of rip currents and how to stay safe if you get caught in one.
A rip current is a powerful, narrow, fast-moving channel of water that moves from the beach and extends out into the ocean. About 100 people die in rip currents at the beach each year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Old advice was to swim out of the current, moving parallel to the shore. Now, Joy said, it's best to go with the flow. She's on a campaign called Float Don't Fight, urging people to stay calm and float in the water until the current dissipates.
If you fight against the rip, it could tire you out — and leave you fighting for your life.
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