Components of Rip Currents

1) Head - rip spreads out and weakens

2) Neck - actual rip or river of water 

3) Feeders - supply source for the rip

Identifying Rip Currents
Rip currents are usually brownish sandy colored, appear rough or choppy and may have foam and debris particles moving steadily seaward ending in a mushroom shape. Waves normally do not break in a rip current channel. To the untrained eye rip currents can be difficult to detect. Some novice beachgoers may even be attracted by the relative calmness of the water in the rip current compared to the surf on either side. If in doubt, stay out!

Escaping from Rip Currents
As dangerous and frightening as rip currents are, they are easy to escape from. If you find yourself caught in a rip don't panic or try to swim against the current. Panic and fatigue are what gets swimmers into trouble while in rip currents.

How to Escape from Rip Currents
Swim parallel to shore until you are out of the current or float until the current dissipates then swim diagonally to shore. A rip current can only pull you out to sea it will never pull you under there is no such thing as an undertow.