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The truth about whirlpools and currents: Why they don't pull you underwater?
Countless swimmers get stranded in whirlpools on beaches around the world every year, and this particular current is a potential threat to many water sports enthusiasts. Despite this, many people still have many misconceptions about the nature of whirlpools. One of the biggest myths is that whirlpools can drag swimmers underwater. According to experts, this is actually not true. Is it possible to learn more about this ocean phenomenon by following the currents when eddies occur, to improve our safety?
An eddy is a powerful, localized current that often appears near beaches where waves break, quickly pushing water out to sea.
How are vortices formed?
Whirls are formed mainly when wind and waves break, pushing water towards the beach, causing the water level to rise slightly on the shore. Excess water will naturally flow back into the open water, taking the path of least effort. In some localized areas, where deeper areas already exist, such as cracks in ocean beaches, the topography allows water to easily return to the ocean. Thus, a vortex was formed.
The vortex does not pull people underwater, but creates a strong current flowing outward on the surface.
Appearance characteristics of vortex
Experienced swimmers can sometimes identify the characteristics of eddies from the shore, which is very important for water sports enthusiasts. A whirlpool usually appears like a waterway or stream flowing toward the sea. Here are some visible features that can be used to identify vortices:
- There are clear breaks in the waves, and the water in the eddy area looks calmer.
- The vortex may have foam on its surface, looking like a "river" of foam.
- Difference in color, eddies may be thicker and often darker or more turbid than the surrounding water.
The dangers of whirlpools
According to statistics, whirlpools are responsible for an average of 71 drowning deaths in the United States each year. For watersports enthusiasts, understanding the characteristics of whirlpools is crucial. Even though the flow speed of the whirlpool can reach 2.5 meters per second, which is already faster than human swimming speed, it is possible for swimmers to escape from the whirlpool by swimming parallel to the shore.
A whirlpool is simply a band of moving water, and swimmers should swim in a sideways direction to get out of it.
Survival Strategy
If unfortunately you are caught in the whirlpool, the most important thing to do is to stay calm and avoid aimless struggling. Rather than trying to swim toward the shore, a more appropriate approach is to swim sideways so that you can quickly escape the eddy. Swimmers should try to understand the dynamics of eddies and learn to enter the water from a safe location, especially where a lifeguard is present.
Conclusion
Finally, we learned that the dangers of whirlpools are often misjudged, with people mistakenly believing that they can pull people underwater. However, the real danger lies in lack of knowledge and uncertainty about swimming technique. Are you ready to equip yourself with safety knowledge to deal with accidents on the water?
