Cape Cod National Seashore. (Vicki Jauron/Babylon and Beyond Photography/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- With Hurricane Chris set to pass about 350 miles east of Cape Cod, riptides off Cape Cod National Seashore are set to intensify. Chief Ranger Leslie Reynolds, who manages the lifeguards at the national park, talked to WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Laurie Kirby about the ways the public can stay safe.
"Because of that storm, we may be experiencing larger swells, more riptides, and potentially higher tides," Reynolds said.
She said the currents are present all the time at all beaches, but storms cause more of them. She said lifeguards would be on six of the beaches from 9:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. seven days a week, and that the public should look out for signage or yellow flags urging caution in the water.
"Read the beach signage, pay attention to what the lifeguards tell you," Reynolds said. "If you have a question or a concern about the conditions in the water, please ask the lifeguards. If the lifeguards have you swim in a different area, then please swim in that different area."
Reynolds also offered tips on how to get out of a rip current.
"If you do get caught in a riptide, it will pull you out to sea rather quickly," she said. "Our best advice is, don't panic or try to swim against that current. If you can, swim parallel to the shore until you're out of the current. Rip currents are rarely more than 30 feet wide, so if you can't break out of the current, just float calmly until it dissipates."
Hear more from Reynolds below.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Laurie Kirby (@LaurieWBZ) reports