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Important Things to Know About Dangerous Ocean Rip Currents. 'The Independent' reports that rip currents pose the greatest danger to beachgoers, accounting for the most beach rescues every year. Over a recent two-day period in Florida, six people drowned in rip currents. Every year, about 100 people drown because of rip currents in the United States according to the U.S. Lifesaving Association. Over 80% of beach rescues involve rip currents every year. So far in 2024, the National Weather Service has listed 16 deaths from rip currents in U.S. waters. A rip current is a narrow column of water that flows rapidly away from the beach, which are capable of pulling swimmers a fair distance from the shore. Rip currents normally form at low spots along the beach or along jetties and piers. While sometimes associated with stormy weather, they can also occur on sunny, clear days. Rip currents are also difficult to detect as the surface water near them often appears to be calm. 'The Independent' reports that the best advice to escape a rip current is to try and swim parallel to the shore and not to tire yourself out before having to swim back to land. THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT