Atlantic Star Safety

Beaches

Planning on hitting a few beaches on vacation? Take these tips along with you to stay safe.

Staying Safe When Heading to Beaches

When you go to any beaches, keep these things in mind:

Don't swim at beaches that don't have lifeguards
Don't swim if you've been drinking
Heed red flags and danger warnings
Don't swim at beaches when they are closed. If you need help, none will be available!
Don't go out very far when there are dangerous surf warnings.
If you get a cramp, keep that part of your body perfectly still and wave your arm for help.
If you find yourself in a rip current, swim across it diagonally.
If you get caught in a current or some other undertow, raise one arm up and try to float until you get help.
Shuffle your feet on the sand in shallow water to avoid stepping on a stingray.
Don't drink ocean water.

Risk of Sunburn

Obviously when you go to the beach, you run the risk of getting a sunburn. To prevent it, you should wear sunscreen, but that's a no-brainer, right? You should also remember these things:

The sun is strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and if you are visiting beaches where the sun is stronger (like Florida, for instance) remember that those rays are probably even more intense than what you're used to.
Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses with a loose fit and with 100% UV protection.
Don't let cloud cover fool you into thinking that you don't need sun protection. Sometimes clouds can scatter sunlight and you can end up with a burn despite the fact that it was cloudy.
Remember that some medications can make you more sensitive to the sun. Check with your pharmacist to see if any of your prescriptions cause this.

On a happier note, bring a cooler full of bottled water to stay hydrated and avoid heat stroke. Finally, have a great time!