# Heidi Klum rescues son from rip tide **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 2, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heidi-klum-rescues-son-from-rip-tide/654659 "2013-04-02T20:11:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heidi-klum-rescues-son-from-rip-tide/654659/21 "2013-04-05T21:58:59Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I don’t know what a riptide is or how to avoid one, guess I’m pretty fucking stupid, but sounds like you got caught in one too. AFAIK, there’s no way tell for certain if a rip tide is present. I think there are some indicators, but I forget what they are and I’m not sure if they’re definitive. That was one of the last times that I went swimming in the ocean, so you’ll have to forgive me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heidi-klum-rescues-son-from-rip-tide/654659/22 "2013-04-05T22:07:47Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > So what are you supposed to do when mountain lions attack? I’m curious now as I’m planning a vacation in the Adirondacks! You don’t need to worry too much about [mountain lions](http://images.usatoday.com/graphics/news/gra/mountain_lion.gif) in the Adirondacks - just make sure you know how to safely share the woods with [bears](http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7223.html). ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heidi-klum-rescues-son-from-rip-tide/654659/23 "2013-04-05T22:10:16Z")
So as I understand the OP… Somebody was fucking stupid for trying to swim against a riptide, except that the somebody in question was a seven year old kid, who in fact managed to swim out himself anyway? Don’t know which is worse, the article or the OP. ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heidi-klum-rescues-son-from-rip-tide/654659/24 "2013-04-05T22:24:29Z")
I did a little research by hitting [wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rip_current) and there doesn’t seem to be a hard and fast way of identifying where a rip current will be but knowing how they form can be helpful. Also, as the following quote notes, the location of the current can move substantially over the course of the day depending on what the cause is. > [@](#): > > **Causes and occurrence** > > When [wind](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind) and waves push water toward the shore, that water is often forced sideways by the oncoming waves. This water streams along the shoreline until it finds an exit back to the sea or open lake water. The resulting rip current is usually narrow and located in a trench between [sandbars](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbar), under [piers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pier) or along [jetties](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jetty). A common misconception is that ordinary [undertow](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undertow_%28wave_action%29) or even rip currents are strong enough to pull someone _under_ the surface of the water; in reality the current is strongest at the surface. This strong surface flow tends to dampen incoming waves, leading to the illusion of a particularly calm part of the sea, which may possibly lure some swimmers into the area. The off-shore path taken by a rip current can be demonstrated by placing colored dye at the start of a current at the shoreline.[[3]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rip_current#cite_note-3) > > Rip currents are stronger when the [surf](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_wave) is rough (such as during high onshore winds, or when a strong [hurricane](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane) is far offshore) or when the [tide](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tide) is low. > > A more theoretical description involves a quantity known as [radiation stress](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_stress). This is the force (or momentum flux) exerted on the water column by the presence of the wave. As a [wave shoals](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_shoaling) and increases in wave height prior to breaking, radiation stress increases. To balance this, the mean surface (the water level with the wave averaged out) decreases—this is known as _setdown_. As the wave breaks and continues to reduce in height, the radiation stress decreases. To balance this force, the mean surface increases—this is known as _setup_. As a wave propagates over a sandbar with a gap (as shown above), the wave breaks on the bar, leading to setup. However, the part of the wave that propagates over the gap does not break, and thus setdown will continue. Thus, the mean surface over the bars is higher than that over the gap, and a strong flow will issue outward through the gap. > > Rip currents can potentially occur wherever strong longshore variability in wave breaking exists. This variability may be caused by sandbars (as above) or even by crossing wave trains. As for mountain lions, the [Missouri dept of conservation](http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/wildlife-sightings/mountain-lions/if-you-encounter-mountain-lion) has the following advice (but check out the link as well) > [@](#): > > STOP. Back away slowly if you can do so safely. Running may stimulate a mountain lion’s instinct to chase and attack. Face the mountain lion, stand upright and maintain eye contact. > [ul] > [li]DO NOT APPROACH A MOUNTAIN LION, especially one that is feeding or with kittens. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.[/li][li]STAY CALM. Talk to it in a calm, yet firm voice.[/li][li]DO ALL YOU CAN TO APPEAR LARGER. Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you’re wearing one. If you have small children with you, protect them by picking them up so they won’t panic and run.[/li][li]If the mountain lion behaves aggressively, THROW STONES, BRANCHES OR WHATEVER YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON without crouching down or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly. You want to convince the mountain lion that you are not prey and that you may, in fact, be a danger to it.[/li][li]FIGHT BACK if a mountain lion attacks. Mountain lions have been driven away by prey that fights back. People have fought back successfully with rocks, sticks, caps or jackets, garden tools and bare hands. Remain standing or try to get back up.[/li][/ul] edit - “snow storm” was too vague to work with. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heidi-klum-rescues-son-from-rip-tide/654659.md?page=1)