Perhaps one day while you're enjoying the warm water and beautiful weather at the beach, you find yourself drifting away from shore. Stay calm! You may be caught in a rip current, and we've got information to help keep you safe. Key Points Rip currents are responsible for 100 drowning deaths each year in the U.S. Swim parallel to the shore to escape. Rip currents can happen any time of day. Know Before You Go Rip currents are powerful, fast-moving channels of water that flow