"Dye in the Water": A Visual Approach to Communicating the Rip Current Hazard. (December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brander, Robert W.; Drozdzewski, Danielle; Dominey-Howes, Dale
• Is Part Of: Science communication. Volume 36:Number 6(2014:Dec.)
• Page Start: 802
• Page End: 810
• Publication Date: 2014-12
• Subjects: environmental communication -- public understanding of science -- perception of environment -- environmental hazards -- risk communication; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Knowledge, Sociology of -- Periodicals; Communication in science -- Periodicals; Communication of technical information -- Periodicals; Communication in medicine -- Periodicals; Information scientifique -- Périodiques; Information technique -- Périodiques; Communication en sciences sociales -- Périodiques; Communication en médecine -- Périodiques; 300.14
• DOI: 10.1177/1075547014543026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1075-5470

Abstract

Many beaches are characterized by rip currents—strong, narrow flows that can quickly carry bathers offshore, often against their will. However, despite long-standing efforts at community education and awareness strategies, people continue to drown in rip currents at high rates. Here we describe a simple, but powerful visual-based risk communication approach involving imagery associated with releases of colored dye into rip currents that has been used as an outreach tool with success in Australia. This approach has the potential to transcend limitations of traditional education approaches and bring the rip current hazard to life for a largely unaware public.