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CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. — Hurricane Danielle is expected to stay away from the Carolina Coast but she will still cause dangerous rip conditions throughout the weekend.

Along with rip currents, there is High Surf and a Small Craft Advisory for the coast. These dangerous rip currents can prevent swimmers from making it back to shore, causing them become fatigued and sometimes even drown. Lifeguards say you should never swim alone, pay attention to red rip current warning flags and they will let you know when rips are strong.

Follow these tips to stay safe in the ocean:

• Swim near a lifeguard if you can...
• If you get caught in a rip current, lifeguards say the most important thing to do is stay calm.
• Don't fight the current.
• Swim parallel to the shore and you'll eventually swim out of it.

Lifeguards said knowing what to do is especially important on busy beach weekends like this one.

“Any time you see someone entering the water near a rip current, if there is not a rip current sign we go down and advise them. We tell them to stay out and whistle them out—whatever we need to do. We have rip current signs up and down the beach and red flags on top of those,” said Victoria Baker, Carolina Beach lifeguard.

Lifeguards and the U.S. Coast Guard are urging swimmers to stay out of the water due to the dangerous conditions. caught in a rip current off the coast of Emerald Isle. For the latest information on rip currents, and the rip current forecasts visit the Rip Current Safety Website. from the National Weather Service