If a wave crashes on you while surfing or swimming, and you get tumbled in bubbles and sand like a sheet in a washing machine, don't try to struggle to the surface against it. Curl into a ball, or go limp and float. The wave will take you to the beach, or you can swim to the surface when it soon passes.

A backwash current on a steeply sloping beach can pull you toward deeper water, but its power is swiftly checked by incoming waves. To escape this current, swim straight toward shore if you're a strong swimmer. If you're not, don't panic; wait and float until the current stops, then swim in.

The littoral current is a "river of water" moving up or down the shoreline parallel to the beach. It is created by the angled approach of the waves. In stormy conditions, this current can be very powerful due to high wave energy.

Rip currents often occur where there's a break in a submerged sandbar. Water trapped between the sandbar and the beach rushes out through the breach, sometimes sweeping swimmers out with it. You can see a rip; it's choppy, turbulent, often discolored water that looks deeper than the water around it. If you are caught in a rip, don't try to swim against the current. Instead, swim across the current, parallel to the shore, and slowly work your way back to the beach at an angle. Try to remain calm. Panic will only sap the energy you need to swim out of the rip.

When a wave comes up on the beach and breaks, the water must run back down to the sea. This is undertow. It sucks at your ankles from small waves, but in heavy surf the undertow can knock you off your feet and carry you offshore. If you're carried out, don't resist. Let the undertow take you out until it subsides. It will only be a few yards. The next wave will help push you shoreward again. Click here for illustration.

Sharks

To reduce your risk of shark bites, take the following precautions:

Do not swim alone; sharks are more likely to attack a solitary individual.
Do not wander from shore.
Avoid the water at dawn or during twilight hours when sharks are most active and have a competitive sensory advantage for hunting.
Don't wear bright clothing or reflective jewelry that attracts the attention of sharks and other fish.
Be especially wary if you're bleeding or menstruating, since shark's olfactory senses are acute.
Avoid thrashing about wildly--excessive splash can appear to be shark prey. For this reason, it is advised that you not swim with pets.
Do not swim near fishing action.
Stay away from inlets, fishing piers, and if possible, steep drop-offs and the areas between sandbars--these are favorite hangouts for sharks.
If you see a shark, calmly leave the water as quickly and quietly as possible.

Watch for jellyfish floating on the surface or in the water. While some can give little more than an annoying stinging sensation, others can produce severe discomfort. The Portuguese man-of-war is sometimes blown onto Outer Banks beaches and can be recognized by its distinctive balloon-like air bladder, often exhibiting a bluish tint. Man-of-war stings can be serious. Anyone who is stung by the tentacles and develops breathing difficulties or generalized body swelling should be transported to the nearest emergency facility for treatment. In extreme cases, death can result from anaphylactic shock associated with man-of-war toxin exposure.

Beach Services

Lifeguard services are at fixed sites throughout Dare and Currituck Counties. Corolla Ocean Rescue (252-453-3242) provides guards from 9:30 A.M.to 5:30 P.M.from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day at the following Corolla beaches: Ocean Hill, Corolla Light, Bonito Street (Whalehead), Ocean Sands at Buck Island and Sections P, O, F, and D, and Pine Island at the South County Beach Access. Lifeguards also patrol the beaches from Pine Island to the Penny's Hill area of the off-road area.

Kitty Hawk Ocean Rescue (252-261-2666, www.kittyhawkfd.com/ocean rescue.html) operates two stands, one at Byrd Street and one at the Kitty Hawk Bathhouse. The stands are staffed from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 10:00 A.M.to 6:00 P.M. Roving lifeguards also patrol the beaches of the town. From Labor Day through mid-October, a supervisor stays on the beach.

In Kill Devil Hills (252-480-4066) lifeguard stands are at the following beaches: Helga Street, Hayman Boulevard, Fifth Street, Fourth Street, Second Street, First Street, Asheville Street, Woodmere Street, Carlow Street, Ocean Bay Boulevard, Oregon Street, Clark Street, Martin Street, Atlantic Street, Calvin Street, Ocean Acres Beach Access, and Lake Drive. There are also patrolling guards. Guards are on duty from 9:30 A.M.to 5:30 P.M. in the summer.

Surf Rescue places guards on the beaches in Duck and on Roanoke Island from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Hours are 9:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. Duck lifeguard locations change according to where the greatest population of swimmers is in any given year. Duck has four fixed but movable stands and two roaming lifeguards. On Roanoke Island a guard is at the Old Swimming Hole on the sound between the airport and the aquarium.

Nags Head Ocean Rescue Services (252-441-5909) are provided by the town of Nags Head to its beaches. This service is also provided to Southern Shores through a contracted arrangement. Guarded beaches are available daily beginning Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 10:00 A.M.to 6:00 P.M. Nags Head Ocean Rescue stands are located at the following beaches:

In Southern Shores: Hillcrest and Chicahauk, plus two roving vehicles.

In Nags Head: Albatross Street, Bonnet Street, Enterprise Street, Espstein Street, Forrest Street, Gray Eagle Street, Hargrove Street, and Juncos Street.

There are also seven roving vehicles and two trucks.

Check out the following Web sites for information on water safety: www.usla.org and www.kittyhawkfd.com/oceanrescue.html

Within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, lifeguards are on duty from Memorial Day through Labor Day at Coquina Beach on Bodie Island, at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Beach, and at the Ocracoke Lifeguard Beach (use the first access road past the airport).

The effects of alcohol are amplified by the heat and sun of a summer afternoon, so be aware. It's illegal to operate boats or motor vehicles if you've had too much to drink, and enforcement officers keep an eye out for violators, so practice moderation. Alcohol and swimming is a potentially deadly combination. Even small amounts of alcohol can give you a false sense of security.

It's amazing how many red-bodied people we see lying on the beach, limping into restaurants or, worse yet, waiting in medical centers while visiting the Outer Banks. The sun feels so good. Combined with the sea air, it seems to have a rejuvenating effect. Actually any form of tan or burn is now considered damaged skin. While we can't stop visitors and Insiders alike from toasting themselves, these tips will help keep you comfortable.

Start out with short periods of sun exposure when you first arrive. It seems as if most visitors initially overdo it and have to be careful for the rest of their stay. The summer sun is intense, and you'd be surprised how much of a burn your skin can get in 20 or 30 minutes on an afternoon in July.

Use ample sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) whenever you're in the sun for any length of time. Put an extra coat on nose, cheeks, lips, and any other high-exposure spots. For maximum benefit, apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going out, since it can take a while for it to become fully effective. Avoid the hottest parts of the day, from 10:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M., when the sun's rays are the strongest. Explore some of the other fun things listed in this guide. Don't hesitate to cover up on the beach. Healthy, protected skin is a sign of good sense.

Dogs must be on a leash unless they are in the water. Park Service rangers and lifeguards patrol the beaches, and they will fine you if your dog is running free. Voice command control is not enough. Fines are around $50. Some communities do not allow pets on the beach at all from mid-May through mid-September. Heed local signs. Not only are unleashed pets a nuisance to non-pet owners, but also they can damage turtle and bird nests and the fragile dune systems.

We shouldn't even have to say it, but, believe it or not, there are people who leave trash behind at the beach. If you're getting ready to throw down a soda bottle or candy wrapper, remember that while you may only be visiting the Outer Banks, you are littering in a year-round community, not to mention destroying natural beauty. Inevitably what is tossed in one backyard winds up littering the lawn of another due to the wind factor. Secure all trash and trash bags carefully and carry them to a trash receptacle. Feel free to pick up any stray trash. It's not uncommon to see locals doing just this.

June through November marks hurricane season. Basically, the whole shoreline of the East Coast is threatened when a hurricane visits, but because of our low elevation, lack of shelter, and our situation in the ocean, these barrier islands are especially vulnerable to storms. Forecasters and almanac writers state that a significant hurricane strikes the Outer Banks approximately once every nine years. After Hurricane Isabel of 2003, visitors and locals alike were reminded of the dangers these storms bring. It's wise to be prepared by packing a hurricane kit in advance. See the end of this chapter for a list of items to include in such a kit.

When Dare County officials order an evacuation, everyone must leave the Outer Banks. This includes vacationers who have already paid for their week's stay and permanent residents who are sometimes hesitant to leave their homes. Newspapers and radio and television stations keep the public notified about evacuations as well as reentry information. Make plans early especially if you have pets or elderly people with you. The Weather Channel issues early warnings or signs of an approaching storm. By all means, stay off the beaches and out of the water. More information about our emergency procedures can be gleaned by calling Dare County at (252) 473-3355, Currituck County at (252) 232-2115, or Ocracoke at (252) 928-1071.

Tornadoes spawned by hurricanes are among the worst weather-related killers. When a hurricane approaches, listen for tornado watches and warnings. (A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop. A warning means a tornado has been sighted.) When a warning is issued, seek shelter immediately, preferably in an inside room away from windows. If you are outside at the time and a tornado is headed your way, move away from its path at a right angle. If you feel you don't have time to escape, lie flat in a ditch or ravine.

Hurricane watches mean a hurricane could threaten the area within 24 hours, but evacuation is not necessary at this point. If a warning is issued, however, visitors should leave the islands and head inland using U.S. Highway 64/264 or U.S. Highway 158 and following the green and white Hurricane Evacuation Route signs.

Here are some guidelines to help you stay safe if a hurricane threatens.