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On the swimming strategies to escape a rip current: a mathematical approach

On the swimming strategies to escape a rip current: a mathematical approach
On the swimming strategies to escape a rip current: a mathematical approach
Rip currents represent significant hazards to swimmers all around the world. The danger arises when a misinformed swimmer uses an inadequate strategy to escape the rip, such as fighting the current directly. This can lead to fatigue, panic, and in some cases drowning. There exists a range of strategies put forward by experts (both lifeguards and scientists) to escape rip currents. However, these recommendations are based on a limited number of scientific studies and there is still much discrepancy surrounding the best strategy to escape a rip. Thus, here we present a simple, physics-based theoretical model aimed at assessing different escape strategies in terms of their associated ‘energetic cost’ (in work and power) for any given rip current and swimmer’s proficiency level. Many combinations of swimmers and rips are considered, including both idealised and a realistic rip current. Our quantitative results back the common knowledge that swimming against the rip (which is strongly discouraged by lifeguards) is almost universally the worst possible strategy, especially when compared against strategies favoured by experts, such as floating with the current before attempting to swim back to the shore. For a realistic rip, our results suggest that swimming directly against the rip can require several times more power from the swimmer than other strategies advised by lifeguards, thus lending further scientific support to experts’ recommendations. This study may help promote education around the dangers posed by rip currents and how best to address them.
Escape, Power, Rip current, Swimming strategy, Work
0921-030X
1449-1467
Withers, Archie
12d95b80-f027-4f13-82b4-4959ab1cc205
Maldonado, Sergio
b303ef8c-52d6-40ed-bf48-59efb4265a85
Withers, Archie
12d95b80-f027-4f13-82b4-4959ab1cc205
Maldonado, Sergio
b303ef8c-52d6-40ed-bf48-59efb4265a85

Withers, Archie and Maldonado, Sergio (2021) On the swimming strategies to escape a rip current: a mathematical approach. Natural Hazards, 108 (2), 1449-1467. (doi:10.1007/s11069-021-04740-7).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Rip currents represent significant hazards to swimmers all around the world. The danger arises when a misinformed swimmer uses an inadequate strategy to escape the rip, such as fighting the current directly. This can lead to fatigue, panic, and in some cases drowning. There exists a range of strategies put forward by experts (both lifeguards and scientists) to escape rip currents. However, these recommendations are based on a limited number of scientific studies and there is still much discrepancy surrounding the best strategy to escape a rip. Thus, here we present a simple, physics-based theoretical model aimed at assessing different escape strategies in terms of their associated ‘energetic cost’ (in work and power) for any given rip current and swimmer’s proficiency level. Many combinations of swimmers and rips are considered, including both idealised and a realistic rip current. Our quantitative results back the common knowledge that swimming against the rip (which is strongly discouraged by lifeguards) is almost universally the worst possible strategy, especially when compared against strategies favoured by experts, such as floating with the current before attempting to swim back to the shore. For a realistic rip, our results suggest that swimming directly against the rip can require several times more power from the swimmer than other strategies advised by lifeguards, thus lending further scientific support to experts’ recommendations. This study may help promote education around the dangers posed by rip currents and how best to address them.

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Published date: September 2021
Additional Information: Funding Information: The authors would like to thank Dr Bruno Castelle and a second, anonymous referee for their thorough and constructive reviews, which significantly improved the original manuscript. Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).
Keywords: Escape, Power, Rip current, Swimming strategy, Work

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 448718
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/448718
ISSN: 0921-030X
PURE UUID: f661185e-854b-439f-b9b7-9d3406854888
ORCID for Sergio Maldonado: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-6072-122X

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Date deposited: 30 Apr 2021 16:34
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:48

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Author: Archie Withers

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