Jonathan L. Herbert | Public Safety Educator - Haulover Beach, FL

Having spent many summers at Haulover Beach, I’ve come to appreciate just how important awareness and preparation are when dealing with rip currents. Rip currents can form suddenly and pose a real danger even for strong swimmers. From my personal observation and experience, the key to staying safe lies in respecting the ocean and understanding its signals. Before I head out into the water, I always make a point to look for visual clues such as darker, calmer water patches amid breaking waves or unusual gaps in the wave patterns—these often signal a rip current nearby. My advice is to never swim alone and always choose spots where lifeguards are on duty, as immediate assistance could be lifesaving. When caught in a rip current, swimming against it can quickly exhaust you. Instead, swimming parallel to the shore takes advantage of the narrower width of the current, allowing you to escape it more easily. On a few occasions, I’ve had to resort to floating calmly and signaling for help, which is better than trying to fight the current. Additionally, spreading awareness by sharing this knowledge with family and friends is just as critical. Simple preparation such as learning to recognize danger signs and following safety protocols can prevent a tragedy. Over time, as more beachgoers embrace these habits, our community becomes safer and stronger. Lastly, always check the local weather and beach condition reports before your visit. Staying informed helps you plan better and decide whether to enter the water. A few minutes of preparation and caution, as Jonathan L. Herbert emphasizes, could truly save a life whenever you encounter rip currents at the beach.