Rip currents from Hurricane Erin prompt dozens of rescues at Wrightsville Beach

Wrightsville Beach lifeguards rescued as many as 15 people by Tuesday afternoon as Hurricane Erin moves through the Atlantic Ocean closer to the North Carolina coast.

Rip currents and large waves from Hurricane Erin prompted the town of Wrightsville Beach to issue a no-swimming advisory for Tuesday through Friday.

On Monday, lifeguards at Wrightsville Beach reported between 60 to 70 rip current rescues.

"When we have a storm coming to us, for us, it's a little bit better because people tend to not want to come to the beach," said Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue Director Sam Proffitt. "They know it's going be rainy [or] whatever else."

Proffitt said rescue crews struggle with people wanting to get into the water because it's hot out. He said they often get pulled out into the ocean by rip currents.

The National Hurricane Center said the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda will face a risk of dangerous surf and rip currents across the western Atlantic basin throughout the week.

Wrightsville Beach will see a high rip current risk through Friday morning.

On Tuesday, the lifeguard stands at Wrightsville Beach flew red flags.

Here's what the flag colors mean at the beach:

• Green flag: Low hazard
• Yellow flag: Medium hazard
• Red flag: High hazard
• Double red flag: Closed beach
• Purple flag: Dangerous marine animals are nearby

Impacts from Erin are not likely in Triangle, which may not even get rain from the storm.

How to spot, survive a rip current

Tropical systems like Erin can create dangerous conditions at the coast even if they don't make landfall. Life-threatening rip currents are expected most of this week.

Avoid getting in the water when conditions are rough, and remember the following ocean safety tips.

When at the beach

• Whenever possible, swim at a lifeguard-protected beach.
• Never swim alone.
• Learn how to swim in the surf. It's not the same as swimming in a pool or lake.
• Be cautious at all times, especially when swimming at unguarded beaches. If in doubt, don’t go out.
• Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards. Lifeguards are trained to identify potential hazards. Ask a lifeguard about the conditions before entering the water. This is part of their job.
• Stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties. Permanent rip currents often exist along these structures.
• Consider using polarized sunglasses when at the beach. They will help you to spot signatures of rip currents by cutting down glare and reflected sunlight off the ocean’s surface.
• Pay especially close attention to children and the elderly when at the beach. Even in shallow water, wave action can cause loss of footing.

If caught in a rip current

• Remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
• Never fight against the current.
• Think of it like a treadmill that cannot be turned off, which you need to step to the side of.
• Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim at an angle – away from the current – toward shore.
• If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
• If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by waving your arm and yelling for help

If you see someone in trouble

• Don't become a victim, too.

• Get help from a lifeguard.

• If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 911.

• Throw the rip current victim something that floats – a life jacket, a cooler, an inflatable ball.

• Yell instructions on how to escape.

• Remember, many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current.