ST. LUCIE COUNTY – St. Lucie County Parks & Recreation is inviting residents and visitors to learn how to safely escape one of the ocean's most dangerous hazards through a series of free rip current safety demonstrations in public pools this summer.

Using the county's new rip current simulation machine, participants will experience a controlled current that demonstrates how rip currents behave and learn the proper techniques for escaping them safely. The hands-on demonstrations are designed to help swimmers build confidence and prepare for real-world conditions before heading to the beach.

Rip currents are powerful channels of water that flow away from shore and can quickly carry swimmers away from the beach. Many people instinctively try to swim directly back to shore, which can lead to exhaustion. Instead, swimmers should remain calm, swim parallel to the shoreline to escape the current and then return to shore at an angle.

"Education is one of the most effective tools we have to prevent water-related emergencies," said Jennifer Gill, St. Lucie County Parks & Recreation manager. "These demonstrations allow participants to experience how a rip current works in a safe, controlled environment while learning skills that could save their life or the life of someone they love."

The demonstrations are free and open to the public.

• Sunday, July 19 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Lakewood Park Pool. Registration required (Limited to 50 participants). Please visit the Rip Current Event webpage to register.
• Tuesday, July 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Boatwright Pool as part of the Back-to-School Splash Jam. This is a free event; no registration required. Residents can participate on a first-come, first-served basis.  In addition to the rip current demonstrations, attendees can enjoy games, crafts and other family-friendly activities during the event.
• Sunday, Aug. 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Ravenswood Pool. Registration required (Limited to 50 participants). Please visit the Rip Current Event webpage to register.

Residents interested in attending the July 19 or Aug. 16 demonstrations should register in advance, as space is limited to 50 participants per session.

For more information about St. Lucie County aquatics programs, please visit the St. Lucie County Aquatics & Pools site.