Hundreds of beachgoers rescued from rip currents along Florida coast over the weekend
Swimmers are advised to swim parallel to the shoreline if caught in a rip current
Over 200 people rescued from Daytona Beach due to rip currents
Captain A.J. Miller, Watch Commander for Volusia County Beach Safety, discusses why 268 people had to be rescued from Daytona Beach in Volusia County, Florida this weekend.
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla - Rip currents along the East Coast kept lifeguards busy in Florida over the weekend after 268 beachgoers needed to be rescued from the dangerous surf.
HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER ON TV
According to FOX 35 Orlando, 268 people were rescued from the Atlantic this weekend.
Volusia County Beach Safety reported 138 people needed to be rescued on Saturday, while 130 people were pulled from the water on Sunday.
Surviving a rip current
Lucas Bocanegra, Miami Beach Ocean Rescue Lieutenant, urges swimmers to go to beaches with lifeguards, abide by warning signs and move parallel to the shore if caught.
FOX 35 reported that a 57-year-old Orlando woman was caught in a rip current when witnesses reported seeing her struggling to make it safely back on shore and was then submerged by the rough surf.
Lifeguards were able to get her back to land and immediately began to perform CPR on her until she regained a pulse and started to breathe.
NOAA AIMS TO KEEP BEACHGOERS SAFE WITH NEW LIFE-SAVING RIP CURRENT FORECAST MODEL
FOX 35 reports that the woman was taken to a hospital and is in stable condition.
Rip currents are strong, narrow currents that move away from the shore and out to sea at high speed, occurring at any beach that has breaking waves – even the Great Lakes.
Given how deadly rip currents can be each year, it's essential to understand how to survive if you are unfortunate enough to be caught in one.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX WEATHER UPDATE PODCAST
268 people rescued from Daytona Beach over the weekend due to high surf
Volusia County Beach Safety reported 138 people rescued from the ocean on Sunday and 130 on Saturday. FOX 35 Orlando reporter Randi Hildreth has more.
"If you do get caught in a rip current, the best thing you can do is stay calm," said Dr. Gregory Dusek in NOAA's rip current survival guide. "It's not going to pull you underwater, it's just going to pull you away from shore."
You're advised to call and wave for help to get the attention of a lifeguard on duty. Do your best to float, and don't swim back toward the shore (against the rip current) because it will just make you tired.
"You want to swim out of the rip, parallel to shore, along the beach, and then follow breaking waves back to shore at an angle," Dusek added.