A Newspoll survey has revealed that 96 percent of Australians could not identify a rip current and alarmingly only 15 percent could correctly explain the most effective way to save themselves if caught in a rip current and therefore prevent themselves from drowning.

This follows the 2009 National Coastal Safety Report which identified that rip currents are the most prominent hazard on Australian beaches.

Up to 89 percent of rescues by surf lifesavers and lifeguards on Australian beaches are caused by beachgoers caught in rip currents.

On Sunday 29 November, Surf Life Saving (SLS) launched a public safety campaign, to educate Australians about rip currents and how to survive them. The message is simple: “To escape a rip, swim parallel to the beach”.

To view the new rip currents website click here.

Peter George AM, National Director of Lifesaving at Surf Life Saving Australia says, “Our key surf safety message remains ‘Swim Between the Red and Yellow Flags’, however our data shows that the majority of people who drown in rip currents are swimming away from patrolled areas and outside of patrol times”.

At any given time it is estimated that 17,000 rips exist on Australia’s 11,748 beaches.

With only four percent of Australian beaches patrolled, being able to identify a rip current and how to survive being caught in a rip current is critical to reduce fatalities on Australian beaches.

“To put it into perspective, last year there were 94 coastal drownings and one fatal shark attack. This shows that beach drowning deaths get far less attention than shark attacks. It is critical that we bring attention to rip currents on Australian beaches and educate beachgoers to drastically reduce the fatalities each year,” said Mr George.

"Our biggest concern is young men, aged 25-34 who are over-represented in our drowning data. They are a large contingent of the beach going population, they are confident and often do not listen to safety advice, and herein lies the challenge.”

Mr George said that “The new campaign aims to provide people, especially this male demographic, with the simplest and safest way to escape a rip current”.

The Newspoll study also reveals that since 2004 there has been a six percent increase in the proportion of Australians who swim in the surf during summer, up from 47 percent to 53 percent.

“The increase in the numbers of people swimming at Australian beaches, coupled with the lack of knowledge about rip currents is a lethal combination, making it even more important to educate beachgoers on the most dangerous hazard at our beaches,” said Mr George.

Lachlan Holbery-Morgan, 2009 Australian Surf Lifesaver and Lifeguard of the Year regularly sees the life threatening consequences of beachgoers not understanding rip currents.

“It is essential that every Australian knows what a rip current is, how to avoid one and how to escape one,” said Holbery-Morgan.

“The rip current campaign message is a very simple one, “To escape a rip, swim parallel to the beach”. If people can remember this very simple instruction when they find themselves in a rip current, they will have a very good chance of escaping it,” he said.

“The reality is there are too many coastal drowning deaths on Australian beaches; they are preventable with education, and we are committed to drastically reducing these tragic fatalities on Australia’s beaches this summer,” concluded Mr George.

The campaign has been funded by the Australian Government, through the Department of Health and Ageing and will include television, press, radio and outdoor advertising as well as a new website www.ripcurrents.com.au.

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* This Newspoll study was conducted by telephone in October 2009 among a representative sample of n=1201 adults aged 18+ nationally. Previous waves of the study were conducted in December 2000 (n=1200) and November 2004 (n=1200).

For further information, please visit: www.ripcurrents.com.au.

For more details about the rip currents campaign click here.

THE FACTS:

4% of Australians are able to correctly describe what a rip looks like.

43% of Australian surf beach goers say they check surf conditions with a surf lifesaver all or some of the time - a decrease compared to 2004 (54%).

20% of Australians are able to provide a partially correctly response on what a rip looks like, or how to visually identify a rip. This includes mentioning darker colour water, murky or brown water, sand stirred up or sandy water; water is calmer / flatter / smooth / no waves / calm / not broken waves / no foam.

73% of Australian surf beach goers say they always swim between the flags, which means the remainder do not do so (27% - representing 2.3 million Australians), and are risking their lives by their actions combined with their lack of knowledge.

From the 2009 National Coastal Report:

Up to 89% of surf lifesavers and lifeguards rescues are caused by rip currents.

At any given time it is estimated that 17,000 rips exist on Australian beaches.

Caption:
The dark water indicates a rip at this beach.

STATE BREAKDOWN:

State % who could correctly describe a rip % who could correctly describe how to escape a rip
NSW 3% 13%
QLD 3% 13%
VIC 7% 17%
WA 3% 21%
SA 3% 15%