FROM THE EDITOR 



Breaking the Grip 



Even Mark Trail — of comic strip fame — wants you 

 to avoid rip currents this summer. 



The first national Rip Current Awareness Week will 

 open June 5 with safety tips in the Sunday Comics, courtesy 

 of Mark Trail. 



The awareness week continues the National Oceanic 

 and Atmospheric Administration's national Break the Grip of 

 the Rip ™ campaign that was launched in Wrightsville Beach 

 last year. 



The emphasis this year is on unguarded beaches. Many 

 stretches of North Carolina's beaches have no lifeguards. 

 And most communities with guards often have them on duty 

 for limited hours during the prime beach season. 



Thus, NOAA programs — including the National Sea 

 Grant Network, the National Weather Service (NWS) and 

 the National Ocean Service — join community leaders to 

 encourage beachgoers to learn to spot and avoid rip currents 

 that can pull even Olympic swimmers. 



Tips on how to get out of a rip current — or help 

 someone in trouble — go out to all beach visitors, including 

 inland firefighters and rescue personnel taking well-deserved vacations. 



In fact, this summer North Carolina ocean rescue teams have a special 

 message for their inland counterparts: Instincts to help are not enough when 

 it comes to rip currents. Too often, the experts say, those attempting a rip 

 current rescue become victims themselves. 



Instinct may alert firefighters to problems on the beach. But even these 

 professionals need to know the simple steps of rip current safety. 



If no lifeguards are on duty, the first step for would-be rescuers is to 

 call 9- 1 - 1 . Then find a floatable object — a boogey board, surfboard or 

 even a child's "noodle." Try throwing it to the person in trouble and tell 

 them help is on the way. 



BREAK THE 

 GRIP OF THE 



RIP 



If the rescuer goes into the water, he or she should 

 take a flotation device. Upon reaching the person in trouble, 

 float together and try to keep the person calm. 



Often rip currents are only a few feet wide. Thus, 

 those caught in a rip could swim parallel to the shore until 

 safely out of trouble. Then swim toward shore at an angle. 



Break the Grip of the Rip was developed as a cohesive 

 national beach safety message. It was modeled after 

 successful state-based efforts, including North Carolina 

 programs led by Sea Grant, NWS and beach communities 

 since the 1970s. 



The North Carolina partnerships continue. In 

 particular, Sea Grant is supporting ongoing efforts in Dare 

 and New Hanover counties, intended as prototypes for other 

 counties and communities. 



In Dare County, Sea Grant will work with Sandy 

 Sanderson, Dare County emergency management director, 

 and other local officials, to capture rip currents on video, as 

 well as to tape rip current rescue training. These materials 

 can be used for public service announcements, lifeguard 

 training and other awareness programs. 



In New Hanover County, Sea Grant and the NWS are active in the 

 Rip Current Awareness Strategies Team - known as RCAST. The team also 

 includes representatives of town, city and county agencies, the public schools, 

 chambers of commerce and individual businesses. Efforts will include 

 distributing Break the Grip of the Rip posters and brochures to schools and 

 businesses, as well as refrigerator magnets for beach rentals and hotels. 



Watch for announcements of Rip Current Awareness Week events. 

 Go online to www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov. Also check the North Carolina Sea 

 Grant Web site at www.ncseagrant.org. 



Katie Mosher, Managing Editor 



I N 



THIS ISSUE 



Contributing Writers: 

 Kathleen Angione a Ann Green ° Lilly Loughner 

 Katie Mosher ° Ryan Reynolds ° Pam Smith 



Contributing Photographers: 

 Kathleen Angione □ Greg Bolton a Laura Childress 

 Laura Fogo ° Michael Halminski ° EricHinesley 

 Lilly Loughner ° Melissa McGaw a Pam Smith 

 Paul Stephen ° Chris Taylor a Scott Taylor 



North Carolina's diverse coast offers countless interestingsubjects. 

 The large dots on the locator map indicate story settings in this issue - 

 including Tyrrell County, Wilmington and Morehead City. 



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Rockingham CasweH 



w Asheboro 



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Montgomery ^ 



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