Yes, the headlining phrase is really trademarked. Bostonist hopes that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration takes this as a public service and won’t rip on our use of their copyrighted phrase. Four years ago after losing a dear friend to a rip current in Central America Bostonist has been, well, shall we say, a little timid about even the undertow we feel in the chilly ocean waters. We really never knew it was an issue, and so few warnings are displayed, even though NOAA has an entire subdomain dedicated to ripcurrent. When the “year of the shark” attacked we thought that people in Florida were just crazy for getting up in a stir. Bostonist knew good and well that maiming is one thing, rip currents are another, more severe threat and the cause of many a fatal drowning. Bostonist is relieved to read the report that the MIT Sea Grant will be posting up some 300 signs (Bostonist assumes they’ll be just like these) at local beaches.

Swim out of the current, if it’s pulling you out to sea don’t swim to the beach swim sideways until you’ve escaped the grasp of the rip. If you can’t swim out of the current let it take you, tread water, and waive for lifeguard help. Bostonist migh have had the nomenclature wrong, we once called them riptides. Generally, at least simple knowledge of what they are and what to do can help save lives.