Rip currents are an important consideration when setting up a patrol. Red and yellow flags should also be placed adjacent to a sandbank. Warning signage and rescue equipment such as boards, rescue tubes and fins should be placed adjacent to rip currents, since these are areas where people are highly likely to require assistance.
Reducing the public’s exposure to rip currents is the primary intervention to reduce the drowning rate related to rip hazards. This can be achieved by people swimming between the red and yellow flags, following safety signage instructions and learning how to identify rip currents.