CLEVELAND — Lake Erie is a popular summer swimming spot, but there’s a potential for it to become dangerous when rip currents form.

Tom Gill, the Vice President of the United States Lifesaving Association, explained what a rip current is.

What You Need To Know

  • Rip currents are a channel of water that is moving away from the shore, and they can be dangerous for swimmers 

  • If you get caught in a rip current, you should not try to swim out of it 

  • Always listen to lifeguards and swim in designated swim areas 

“A rip current is essentially a channel of water moving away from the shore,” he said.

Gill stressed the dangers of a rip current and what can cause them.

“High winds, tide changes, recent storms in the area all go into where rip currents might occur,” he said.

Branden Burns, who helps train lifeguards through the American Red Cross, said if you get caught in a rip current, don’t try to swim against it and try to stay calm if you can.

“We like to say think so you don’t sink so if you feel like you’re being pulled out on a rip current, relax, tilt your head back and float,” Burns said.

Burns said that he teaches his lifeguards how to save someone who’s caught in a rip current.

“Getting out to them, making sure we’re getting that person so that they can float and staying stable and safe and again get them out of that rip current before we try and bring them back into the shore is the most important thing,” he said.

Burns said stick to designated swim areas, swim with a group and to always listen to the lifeguards.

“If they’re posting that it is dangerous, that it is not safe to swim, you should heed their warning,” he said.