Practice Beach Safety This Summer!

By Nicole Irving, Publisher and Editor-In-Chief
beach safety

The beach can be a wonderful place to relax and unwind with the family, but it is always best to learn and practice beach safety to make sure your vacation goes on without a hitch! Here are some things to keep in mind when visiting the beach!

Also, keep in mind that the CDC still recommends social distancing and wearing a mask when possible in public places. When at the beach, continue to social distance yourself from other families to slow the spread of COVID-19.

 

First Aid Kit

It is always good to have a stocked first aid kit when doing to the beach. The waves, sand and sun can get intense, and it is best to always be prepared. Here is a list of items to have in your beach first aid kit:

  • Neosporin
  • Band-Aids
  • Ice packs
  • Tweezers
  • Wash cloth
  • Water bottle
  • Sunblock
  • After Sun Lotion
  • Pain reliever
  • Gatorade
  • Visine
  • Sharpie
  • Super Glue
  • Scissors

 

What Do The Flags Mean?

At lifeguard stands, you will see different colored flags raised depending on the state of the water. Pay attention to these flags, as they could prevent you and your kiddos from getting hurt in the water.

  • Green
    Lowest hazard, calm conditions
  • Yellow
    Medium hazard, moderateย surf/currents
  • Red
    High hazard, extreme danger,ย swimming not recommended
  • Double Red
    No swimming at all
  • Purple
    Dangerous marine life

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Hidden Dangers

The beach is a huge draw for kids of all ages, but underneath the glow of the sun areย some quiet and lurking dangers.

Rip Currents: These strong andย powerful pulls are a silent and deadlyย killer. Teach your children to swimย parallel with the beach until they canย make their way in and ALWAYS haveย your eye on them!

Being Buried: This activity may seemย innocent, but burying any portion ofย your body in the sand is not safe. Onceย a hole has been dug, the risk of beingย stuck if any sand collapses or as a wavesย rushes in can be deadly.

Stings: Many water friends haveย protective stingers to keep them safe fromย predators. However, sometimes kiddosย run into them by accident. If this happens,ย seek emergency care right away and try toย identify the animal that stung them.

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Whatย Is a Redย Tide?

According to the National Ocean Service, a red tide, or as scientists like to call them, โ€œharmful algae blooms,โ€ occur when colonies of algae grow out of control. This overgrowth can cause toxic or harmful effects on people, fish and marine animals. It can also be debilitating or even deadly, although rarely. The National Ocean Service reports that nearly every summer, one of the best known cases of harmful algal blooms, or HABs, in the nation happens right here along the Floridaโ€™s Gulf Coast. They can last from days to weeks and as the name suggests, the bloom of algae often turns the water red.

Did you know that the Florida beach coastline is made upย of a variety of types of sand? We have white, orange, blackย and gray, brown and some that are a mixture of sand andย shell. Ever notice how the white sand beaches are cooler toย your toes? This is due to the fact that they are made up ofย quartz, which does not absorb as much heat!

“My kidย ate sand…ย could it beย harmful?”

Kids often eat what theyย shouldnโ€™t, and everythingย goes in their mouths. Sandย should be one of thoseย things that you try hardย to keep out. It may seemย innocent and benign, butย sand, specifically beachย sand, can carry manyย different toxins, even inย small amounts. Fromย cigarette butts, fecal matterย (animal and, I hate to say,ย human) to even glassย shards, sand can go fromย fun to icky in an instant.

 

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