Have Fun at the Beach, but Stay Safe!
The summer months are the perfect time for a beach trip. However, it’s important to know the facts about beach safety when planning your next trip — the ocean can be dangerous if you’re not prepared.
Many beaches use warning flags to indicate dangerous conditions. When going to the beach, be on the lookout for signs that indicate what the different warning flags mean. In this way, if you see a warning flag being used, you can know what to look out for. However, not all beaches use warning flags, and the warning flags may be different from beach to beach.
One of the beach’s biggest dangers are rip currents. Rip currents are narrow, powerful currents of water that are found at the nation’s surf beaches. They can quickly carry you away from the shore and even cause drowning. Each year, over 100 people in the United States die due to rip currents. If you get caught in a rip current the best thing to do is not swim against the current, relax and float. If possible, escape the current by swimming in a direction toward the shoreline. If unable to escape the current, face the shore and call or wave for help. The chance of drowning at a beach with lifeguards is very small (a chance of 1 in 18 million).
Rip currents aren’t the only danger in the water — waves can also be dangerous. Plunging waves are the most dangerous type of breaking waves. They can easily slam your body into the ocean floor. Many spinal and head injuries are caused in this way. Surging waves can also be dangerous as they can easily knock you over as they rush up and back down the beach. Even small waves can be dangerous.
REMEMBER: STAY DRY WHEN THE WAVES ARE HIGH!
When the waves aren’t high and you’d like to enjoy some time in the water, it’s always important to enter
the feet first. Don’t dive in head-first because if the water is shallow, you can cause serious injuries if your head hits the bottom.
Heat and sun safety are two other things to keep in mind when at the beach. It’s important to always wear sunscreen to protect yourself against UV exposure when you’re going to be in the sun for an extended period of time. You’ll also want to make sure that you stay hydrated. Additionally, it helps to wear lightcolored clothes, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
Lastly, always pay attention to the weather. If a thunderstorm is approaching, immediately take shelter indoors or in a hard-topped vehicle to avoid being struck by lightning. Beach activities are the second greatest cause of lightning fatalities.
So now you know a few good tips to help make your trip to the beach a safe one! For more information about beach safety, visit http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/beach_hazards.html
