When talking to leanrers about RIP Currents, one of the most important pieces of advice our PE WaterWise Instructor, Marcus Oshry, gives to them is to think with their head and not with their heart. This is Marcus's advice:'I know that if my brother or sister were in trouble in a RIP Current, I would be the first one running into the water to save them. However, I am trained to perform such rescues. The learners that we are teaching are not equipped to save lives in this manner.One of the most dangerous things to assume is that when you swim out to someone who is panicking, and possibly drowning, is that they are going to greet you when you swim up to them and ask you how your day is going...The first thing they are going to do is grab onto your shoulders and push you under the water in order to get their heads above the water. They are panicking and all they can think about is surviving. They see you as something that is floating and will do anything they can to survive. Don't be a dead hero. Be a clever hero and call 10177 for help.WaterWise is proudly sponsored by TNPA.
Marcus teaches a Walmer West Primary School class about rip currents.
