[I see my hands]

"If you are unable to swim out of the rip current..."

Swimming parallel to the shore gets you out of the rip. The above is meaningless.

You quote the government and feel good about yourself and I'll offer advice that saves lives.

[vbmoneyspender]

I think the basic concept you are having difficulty with is that generally, people who die in riptides are not strong swimmers.

[MHGinTN]

It takes a strong swimmer just to stay afloat while trying to swim parallel to the rip/beach. And eight foot waves would swamp even a good swimmer if they didn’t understand how to duck dwon into the wave as it breaks over them.

[vbmoneyspender]

You quote the government and feel good about yourself and I'll offer advice that saves lives.

And by the way, the gentleman I quoted is a United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. Should I discount his advice because the Coast Guard is part of the government.