Perception of the rip current hazard on Galveston Island and North Padre Island, Texas, USA

Brannstrom, Christian; Trimble, Sarah; Santos, Anna N.; Brown, Heather Lee; Houser, Chris

doi:10.1007/s11069-014-1061-3

Cited by 64 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Consistent with results of Matthews et al (2014), only a small percentage of beach users (< 50 %) recalled observing rip current warning signs on beaches in Florida and Texas (Caldwell et al, 2012;Brannstrom et al, 2014) despite their widespread occurrence at beach access points. However, it is important to note that despite observing and understanding a warning sign, it is well established that some people will not take the appropriate actions to prepare for or avoid the hazard (Siegrist and Gutscher, 2006;Karanci et al, 2005;Hall and Slothower, 2009;Jóhannesdóttir and Gís-ladóttir, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 52%

“…Morgan et al (2009) identified that lacking rip current knowledge was associated with rip current drownings, as was gender, age, alcohol consumption, and overconfidence in swimming ability. Recent evidence suggests that while most beach users are aware of rip currents and the hazard they pose, they are not able to identify a rip current (Sherker et al, 2010;Caldwell et al, 2013;Brannstrom et al, 2014). More than 80 % of beach users surveyed in Florida and Texas failed to identify rip currents in photographs, usually by incorrectly identifying areas of breaking waves as the most hazardous swimming conditions (Brannstrom et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent evidence suggests that while most beach users are aware of rip currents and the hazard they pose, they are not able to identify a rip current (Sherker et al, 2010;Caldwell et al, 2013;Brannstrom et al, 2014). More than 80 % of beach users surveyed in Florida and Texas failed to identify rip currents in photographs, usually by incorrectly identifying areas of breaking waves as the most hazardous swimming conditions (Brannstrom et al, 2014). This is consistent with results of Sherker et al (2010), who argued that most beach users are unable to identify a rip current and that "beachgoers clearly need to know what a rip looks like to actively avoid swimming in it" (p. 1787).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Informing the public about the rip current hazard has become a national priority in several countries including the United States (e.g., Ashley and Black, 2008;Brannstrom et al, 2014), Australia (e.g., Sherker et al, 2008;, United Kingdom (e.g., Woodward et al, 2013), and Costa Rica (Arozarena et al, 2015). The United States has arguably the longest running cooperative and coordinated public rip current education program operating across various organizational and political levels (Carey and Rogers, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, the generic nature of the rip current forecasts can result in situations where the actual intensity of rips varies substantially from the forecast. Beachgoers could easily observe a discrepancy between their beach location and the rip forecast, caused by either the generalized nature of the forecast or their inability to identify a rip current (Caldwell et al, 2012;Brannstrom et al, 2014.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Public perceptions of a rip current hazard education program: “Break the Grip of the Rip!”

Houser

Trimble

Brander

et al. 2017

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Rip currents pose a major global beach hazard; estimates of annual rip-current-related deaths in the United States alone range from 35 to 100 per year. Despite increased social research into beach-goer experience, little is known about levels of rip current knowledge within the general population. This study describes the results of an online survey to determine the extent of rip current knowledge across the United States, with the aim of improving and enhancing existing beach safety education material. Results suggest that the US-based "Break the Grip of the Rip!" ® campaign has been successful in educating the public about rip current safety directly or indirectly, with the majority of respondents able to provide an accurate description of how to escape a rip current. However, the success of the campaign is limited by discrepancies between personal observations at the beach and rip forecasts that are broadcasted for a large area and time. It was the infrequent beach user that identified the largest discrepancies between the forecast and their observations. Since infrequent beach users also do not seek out lifeguards or take the same precautions as frequent beach users, it is argued that they are also at greatest risk of being caught in a dangerous situation. Results of this study suggest a need for the national campaign to provide greater focus on locally specific and verified rip forecasts and signage in coordination with lifeguards, but not at the expense of the successful national awareness program.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 52%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Public perceptions of a rip current hazard education program: “Break the Grip of the Rip!”

Houser

Trimble

Brander

et al. 2017

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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‘I actually thought that I was going to die’: Lessons on the rip current hazard from survivor experiences

Cornell

Brander

Roberts

et al. 2023

Health Prom J of Aust

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BackgroundRip currents are strong, narrow, fast‐flowing currents of water that occur on many beaches and in Australia contributing to 26 drowning deaths and several thousand lifeguard/lifesaver rescues each year. Educating the public about the rip current hazard is a primary focus of beach safety practitioners, but there has been a lack of qualitative research exploring the firsthand experiences of being caught in a rip current to assist in this regard. The aim of this study was to analyse interviews of rip current survivors to understand more about how people react when unintentionally caught in a rip current in order to help guide future public education to mitigate rip current drowning.MethodsSemi‐structured interviews were conducted with 56 individuals (primarily Australian‐born) about their experience of being caught in a rip current. Interviewees were recruited via an online survey and varied in age and self‐reported swimming ability.ResultsThematic analysis revealed three key temporal elements to the rip current experience: Before the Rip in which lack of awareness and knowledge, complacency, over‐confidence, and attitude were prevalent themes; During the Rip which identified panic and temporary inhibition of decision‐making, physical response, prior experience, and relationships with other beach users as themes; and After the Rip where post‐rip effects and rip safety messaging and education were key themes. The importance of experiential immersion was a prevalent thread throughout all phases of the thematic analysis.DiscussionOur research shows that being caught in a rip current can be an intense and traumatic experience and that lessons learned from survivors have significant implications for improving existing and future rip current education efforts. In this regard, we provide several recommendations based on evidence‐based insights gained from our interviews including the development of immersive rip current experience using virtual reality.So WhatDespite the prevalence of rip currents causing drowning deaths and rescues, there has been a lack of qualitative research on firsthand experiences to aid in public education. These interviews emphasise the intense and traumatic nature of being caught in a rip current, underscoring the need for improved rip current education to aid in prevention of this, often harrowing, experience.

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Beach Safety Research

Brander

2018

Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series

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Perception of the rip current hazard on Galveston Island and North Padre Island, Texas, USA

Cited by 64 publications

References 13 publications

Public perceptions of a rip current hazard education program: “Break the Grip of the Rip!”

Public perceptions of a rip current hazard education program: “Break the Grip of the Rip!”

‘I actually thought that I was going to die’: Lessons on the rip current hazard from survivor experiences

Beach Safety Research

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