Safety TipsWhen I go to the beach I’m going to have a fun and relaxing time. Several safety tips can help protect you from many dangers. It’s always a good idea to pack a small First Aid kit in your beach bag or knapsack. Many of the injuries that occur at the beach are relatively small cuts and scrapes. Having the proper tools to take care of those injuries can let you continue with your fun trip to the beach. There are several more deadly dangers that need to be kept in mind. To avoid more serious injuries always follow the following safety tips: Never swim after drinking or taking certain medications. Never swim at night. Never swim alone at an unsupervised beach. Never run and dive into the water without checking for the depth or hidden objects. Never dive off of piers. The cause of most rescues at the beach is a rip tide or rip current. This is a strong current that runs out toward the sea. These currents can carry even a strong swimmer out into deep water. Especially when the surf is large a tip can form when a channel is created between shore and a sandbar. The large volume of water can then create a dragging effect as it returns to sea. You can identify a Rip current by looking for the following signs: • Debris floating out to sea • Darker colored water which indicates deeper water • Murky water which is caused by sand being stirred up along the bottom • A smoother water surface alongside of white water If you are caught in a rip current the main thing to remember is not to panic. If you stay calm and conserve your energy there are ways to escape the rip. If you are a strong swimmer and have the strength, swim toward the shore at a 45 degree angle in the same direction as the current. When you reach the breaking water at the edge of the current you will be able to swim back toward shore. If you are not a strong swimmer or the current is just too strong, float along with the current and don’t fight it. When you reach the edge of the break of the wave zone turn and swim toward shore. If you are swimming in an area of the country that has stingrays, make sure to shuffle along when you are in shallow water. This helps to scare the stingrays away. If you do get stung soak your legs in water that is as hot as you can tolerate for a half hour. This will help draw out the poison instead of allowing it to move up your legs. Make sure to apply plenty of sunscreen and to reapply it often. Make sure to apply it to the back of your neck, tops of your ears and the tops of your feet. Many injuries occur from stepping on broken glass or other sharp objects. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes whenever possible. Follow these safety tips along with using good old fashioned common sense to have a safe and fun day at the beach Following are some more safety tips regarding First Aid that I hope that you will never need. I am not medically trained and these are tips that I’ve learned through common sense, experience and reviewing literature. Please remember that whenever you are in doubt, it is always a good idea to seek advice from a medical professional.
The internet has a variety of sites with more information on a variety of First Aid topics as well as safety tips. The Mayo Clinic has a good index of First Aid for 50 ailments. This of course is not a substitute for receiving advice from a medical professional.
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