Public perceptions of a rip current hazard education program: “Break the Grip of the Rip!”
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...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2017-07-01
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| Series: | Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences |
| Online Access: | https://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/17/1003/2017/nhess-17-1003-2017.pdf |
| Summary: | 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 <q>Break the Grip of the
Rip!</q><span style="position:relative; bottom:0.5em; " class="text">®</span>
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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| ISSN: | 1561-8633 1684-9981 |