Rip current knowledge: do people really know its danger? do lifeguards know more than the general public?

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Aquatic Safety
• Risk Assessment

Background:

• Drowning is a significant global health issue, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives annually.
• Beaches are vital recreational spaces, yet limited public awareness of aquatic risks contributes to accidents.
• Understanding public knowledge of beach hazards is essential for effective safety interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the Spanish population's awareness of beach-related risks, specifically rip currents.
• To identify factors influencing knowledge of aquatic hazards.
• To evaluate the role of lifeguards in mitigating risks.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire was distributed online via Google Forms over seven days in May 2022.
• Data from 289 participants were analyzed using Chi-square and Cramér's V statistics, and Odds Ratio.
• A significance level of p < 0.05 was applied.

Main Results:

• Only 50.5% of participants could correctly identify a rip current.
• Lifeguards showed significantly better understanding of rip current definition, identification, and response compared to the general population.
• Demographic factors like sex, age, and residence did not correlate with rip current knowledge.

Conclusions:

• Professional lifeguards are vital for preventing accidents in natural aquatic environments.
• Enhanced public education on rip currents and beach safety is necessary.
• Targeted safety initiatives may be required to improve risk perception among beachgoers.