Barry Sullivan, left, general superintendent of the Gateway National Recreation Area, and Gary Szatkowski, meteorologist with the National Weather Service forecast office in Mount Holly, N.J., unveil a sign Tuesday in Sandy Hook, N.J., that will appear on beaches at the park to warn swimmers of the dangers of rip currents.

In the past dozen years, 18 people have drowned in rip currents off the New Jersey coast as the dangerous flows of water away from the shore keep lifeguards busy, the Associated Press reports. With 80 percent of all surf rescues nationwide attributed to the strong tides, federal officials launched a national campaign Tuesday to alert swimmers to the dangers of the currents, and educate them on how to escape from them. "It's truly the number one threat to beachgoers," said Tom Herrington, a coastal expert with Stevens Institute of Technology.
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