Malcolm-Jamal Warner recently drowned while swimming in Costa Rica. Officials reported that Warner was caught in a rip current. Unfortunately, many of our people lose their lives to drowning every year. But there are steps we can take to keep ourselves safe in the water.
The ocean is mighty, and getting caught in a rip current, a fast-moving channel of water that flows away from the shore, can pull even strong swimmers off course. Here’s how to get out of one.
Above all, remain calm. A rip current pulls you away from shore, but trying to swim against it can wear you out. Instead, swim or float parallel to the shore, then back towards the beach at an angle once you get free from the current.
Swimming pools can be dangerous, too. Research shows that Black children are twice as likely to die by drowning as the general population. While historical reasons—like segregated public swimming facilities—kept many of us from learning, swimming is an important skill that can save our lives.
We deserve to enjoy the water and to get safely home to our families. Share this story with someone you love to help keep our people safe.