Rip current warning

Well, our top story this hour, a big warning if you're headed to the beach. A tropical storm Bertha may be far away from our coast, but it is still posing a danger in the surf. A new round of rip current warnings have just been issued. At FOX 13's Matthew McClellan joins us live now from Clearwater with the steps that could save a life. Matt, good morning. Laura, Russell, good morning. So your first instinct may be to turn toward the beach and try to swim as hard as possible, but that is exactly what experts say not to do. This is We are beginning to see people arriving for another day of red flags out here. You cannot win. We know this. You cannot win a head-on race against a powerful rip current and trying to use up the energy you need to survive. If you are caught in a rip current, you guys, first you, of course, want to remain calm and yell or raise an arm for help. Get somebody's attention. And then you're going to float or tread water so you do not exhaust yourself. If you are able to want to move parallel to the shoreline until you are out of the current and then turn and swim at an angle back toward the beach. If you see another person struggling, you want to call 911 or get a lifeguard. Do not enter the water without training or rescue equipment because you could become a second victim. Most of the time people panic. They try to swim against it. They don't realize how big it is or how long it's actually extending out. The safest plan begins before anybody gets into trouble. You want to check those beach flags, swim in front of a staffed lifeguard tower, keep children within arm's reach, and understand that a red flag means the surf is dangerous even when the weather on the sand appears calm. Now the high rip current risk remains in effect, Laura and Russell, until eight o'clock tonight. Clearwater officials say swimming is not advised while these red flags are flying. The simplest way to avoid needing a rescue today, of course, is to respect those flags, respect those warnings before you step into the water. Laura, Russell. All right, Matt McClellan live for us this morning, Matt. Thank you.