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Topic: General Information

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Main Topic Post: General Information

Posted By: Guest

Subject: surf and riptides?

We are considering a month in the OB this summer. But, hear that the surf/rip tides can be quite dangerous for little kids on the OB beaches. Is this the case?

Message Replies:

9139: RE: surf and riptides?

12/25/2006 8:07:32 AM

Posted By: Guest

Don't let the words of caution about rip tides overwhelm you. They are not all that common and little kids are almost never the ones who get in trouble from them, adults are much more prone to be pulled out away from shore than a small child. This is because the rips tides only pull out those floating in the water so if you just stay close to shore in waist deep water you are not likely to be bothered by them. Also, stay in an area with lifeguards like Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil or Nags Head. They will "red flag" the beach on days when it is not safe. Worry more about the fools who can kill you on the roads than anything with regards to the water or beach.

9140: RE: surf and riptides?

12/25/2006 8:37:20 AM

Posted By: Guest

Thanks for the advice!
I feel better about my decision now!

9141: RE: surf and riptides?

12/25/2006 6:33:16 PM

Posted By: kdh guard

yes, adults are more likely to get in trouble in regards to rip currents, but i can assure you in my 5 years of ocean lifeguarding I have pulled more childern out of the water than adults. Issues you should be concerned with is areas that have steep drop offs, unfortunatly many areas have steep dropoffs which cause large waves to break in very shallow water and could cause injuries, and for small kids, they could be in knee deep water, a wave comes and they could be pulled out into deeper water. The towns of Duck, Corolla, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head all have lifeguards, but KDH is by far the most covered. Stands are sight to sight for the entire length of the town. Look for both red flags and yellow flags. I do not think that many of the towns use yellow flags, but KDH does. A yellow flag indicates a rip current is in that area. Red flags are for unsafe swimming conditions due to large surf from storms and a high number of rips. If you or one of your family members happens to be caught in a rip(if you are trying to swim back to the beach, and can not make any forward progress) swim parallel to the beach preferably with the longshore current. Do not be afraid to ask the lifeguards questions, we are more than happy to let you know the conditions and what a rip current is and how to spot one.

9145: RE: surf and riptides?

12/26/2006 4:13:34 PM

Posted By: Rick

The surf and riptides are like fish you never know until you get there they change every day , They post warnings when it gets bad .

There is a nice place just south of Avon on Hatteras that is great for Kids Called the Haul Over area .It is on the sound side and little or no current no waves and shallow a good ways out. Worth a trip for the kiddies no matter where you stay

9146: RE: surf and riptides?

12/26/2006 9:21:35 PM

Posted By: Guest

My children are 13 and 9. I never let them go in. Neither are strong swimmers and children are prone to panic and not think clearly when they are caught in a situation that is scary. We usually go to the pool to swim. I will let them skim along the surf on boards and stuff. You are wise to be cautious. We stay in Avon though where there are no lifeguards. I would probably not worry so much if we stayed where there were some.

11204: RE: surf and riptides?

4/14/2007 9:41:47 PM

Posted By: Guest

stay in an area like kitty hawk or nags head where they have life guards!

39495: RE: surf and riptides?

6/22/2009 3:18:10 PM

Posted By: Guest

all of our kids, even the 13 yr. old, wear life jackets when they go in the water.

39656: RE: surf and riptides?

6/23/2009 7:50:58 PM

Posted By: Guest

We are staying in Rodanthe on Hatteras Island. The ocean gets very rough, especially for kids. We take the kids to the sound at the day use area south of Salvo. Water about 2 feet deep, sandy bottom, they can play all day. Great too for kayaks, floats etc.

39657: RE: surf and riptides?

6/23/2009 7:52:23 PM

Posted By: Guest

We are staying in Rodanthe on Hatteras Island. The ocean gets very rough, especially for kids. We take the kids to the sound at the day use area south of Salvo. Water about 2 feet deep, sandy bottom, they can play all day. Great too for kayaks, floats etc.

40635: RE: surf and riptides?

7/1/2009 5:14:53 PM

Posted By: guest

is it safer to wear life jackets in a rip tide prone area or would they make it easier to float to deeper more dangerous waters??

40636: RE: surf and riptides?

7/1/2009 5:17:21 PM

Posted By: guest

is it safer to wear life jackets in a rip tide prone area or would they make it easier to float to deeper more dangerous waters??

40637: RE: surf and riptides?

7/1/2009 5:18:39 PM

Posted By: guest

is it safer to wear life jackets in a rip tide prone area or would they make it easier to float to deeper more dangerous waters??

72173: RE: surf and riptides?

8/3/2010 7:19:41 AM

Posted By: Guest

We've been going to Corolla Light for many years. Our 3 boys all started crashing in the surf around the age of six. (They are now 11, 9 and 7) They absolutely love it. I've seen them stay in for up to two hours at a time. The shelf is very, very broad and shallow. We don't let them go out far. But it's not necessary since the waves usually break quite close to shore. Perhaps I'm naive, but it seems a lot safer than others are suggesting.

72174: RE: surf and riptides?

8/3/2010 7:19:49 AM

Posted By: Guest

We've been going to Corolla Light for many years. Our 3 boys all started crashing in the surf around the age of six. (They are now 11, 9 and 7) They absolutely love it. I've seen them stay in for up to two hours at a time. The shelf is very, very broad and shallow. We don't let them go out far. But it's not necessary since the waves usually break quite close to shore. Perhaps I'm naive, but it seems a lot safer than others are suggesting.

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