First of all, DON'T PANIC. Escaping a Rip Current is incredibly simple, as long as you stay calm and remember what to do.
As I mentioned in an earlier topic, a Rip Current is a narrow channel of fast-moving water which always flows straight out to sea from the beach, more or less. If you get caught in one, you can easily and quickly swim out of it by swimming parallel to the beach. In other words, swim north or south, right along the beach until you're no longer being swept away from shore. It shouldn't take long. Then, swim straight back toward the beach, being careful not to swim back into the rip current.
---David Murphy
