The mother and father of six children, mostly teenagers, killed Thursday after being dragged out to sea by powerful rip currents while on a family vacation in Florida.Family vacation packages

The Pennsylvania family was enjoying the day at a Hutchinson Island beach near Port St. Lucie Thursday afternoon when the 51-year-old father, 48-year-old mother, and two teen daughters were washed away by a rip current, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.

The children were able to escape the current and attempt to aid their parents, but the conditions remained too dangerous, forcing them to swim to shore.

As the National Weather Service urgently advises, rip currents can be deceptively dangerous, draining swimmers’ energy without pulling them under. Calmness is key to survival.