Rip currents causing deadly vacations along Gulf Coast

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — With an uptick of vacationers in Panama City Beach, safety procedures have been further examined.

Double red flag warnings were signaled due to severe weather conditions over the past week.

In less than two weeks, at least seven people have died due to dangerous currents among the Gulf Coast.

 “It’s unfortunate and our lifeguards are doing everything they can. They are very diligent. We work very hard. The safest place to be when you come to the beach is near a lifeguard,” Daryl Paul of Panama City Beach Fire Rescue said.

Despite weather warnings in place, there have been severe consequences.

As always, it is important to call for help and to practice proper safety procedures.

“We treat the water as if it were a highway. You would never put toys next to a highway. You would never let your child sit next to a highway. I don’t care if there were cars coming or not. You know, you just have to have those boundaries built in with them, so they learn that at a very young age,” Aqua-Tots Aquatics Manager Debbie Smith said.

It is advised to not fight the rip current and to stay calm.  Swimming parallel to the shore can lessen chances of injury. 

“Regardless of how good you are with swimming, you cannot compete with nature, right? So, in times like that, the natural way would be just to float on your back,” Raymond Liu of British Swim School said.

Listening to safety instructions could be the difference between life and death. 

Local swimming schools encourage people of all ages to take lessons and practice safe procedures.

Be on the lookout for blue “Ollie Rocks” around Chattanooga. If found, a child can turn the rock in for a free swimming lesson at Aqua-Tots.