Staying Safe on the Beach

By Jennifer Otto

The Emerald Coast features some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Tourists come from all over the country to relax and experience the paradise that the Emerald Coast has to offer. A vacation is a time for experiencing as a family and creating memories; however, if not exercising the proper precautions, this wonderful beach experience could quickly turn into a nightmare.

The purpose of this article is not to scare you, but instead to make you aware of the potential dangers that you face in the Gulf of Mexico. Although incidents are rare, the Gulf of Mexico has had several cases of shark attacks, drownings and heat strokes. It is up to you on whether or not you want to take the proper precautions; however, my philosophy is you can still have fun even if you play it safe.

Safety tips for swimming in the Emerald Coast include:

• Swim at beaches that have flags denoting the surf conditions and obey flag warnings – check out the flag warning system that appears in the lower sidebar.
• Swim at beaches that are manned by lifeguards – lifeguards are trained not only in injury prevention, but also in emergency response.
• Leave your valuables in your hotel or condo – thieves swim in the Gulf just like you and me.
• Do not wander too far from shore – the farther away you are the less likely lifeguards will hear you when you are in trouble and the better your chances are of getting attacked by the dangerous marine life.
• Use sunscreen – the sun has harmful UV rays, so make sure you use the appropriate SPF for your skin type. I suggest using at least 15 SPF whether you are dark or fair skinned.
• Do not bring glass to the beach – glass breaks and can seriously injure yourself or other beachgoers.
• Avoid drinking alcohol if you are swimming – alcohol may be fun, but it is the cause of many beach accidents, such as drowning and heat stroke.
• Do not stay out too long – sunscreen minimizes the effects of the sun, but it does not completely guard you in long exposures to the sun. Staying out for more than an hour or two can cause some serious damage to skin.
• Drink water – even if you are not thirsty, it is important to keep hydrated. Bring lots of water to the beach and make yourself drink it at regular intervals.
• Wear eye protection – sunglasses are like sunscreen for the eyes and protect against dangerous UV rays.
• Wear proper beach shoes – you never know what you will find on the beach, whether it is hot sand or broken glass.
• Watch for signs of heat stroke – heat stroke is life threatening. Read the side bar for common symptoms of heat stroke.
• Keep an eye on the weather – do not be caught in the water during a lightning storm.
• Keep any eye out for dangerous marine life – if you are on a guarded beach, you still need to keep a look out for sharks, jellyfish or other dangerous sea creatures.
• Avoid diving in shallow water – the recent hurricanes have washed some of the sands into the water, causing the water to be more shallow than usual. Make sure you know the depth of the water before you start jumping in headfirst.
• Do not use earplugs when diving – this adds increased pressure to your ears that could cause damage.
• Learn to swim – everyone should know how to swim before going to the beach. If you are one of the unlucky individuals that does not know how to swim, stay in shallow waters and keep floatation devices on at all times.
• Do not swim if you are tired or overheated – check out the symptoms for heat stroke on the side bar.
• Never let kids out of sight – it takes no time for a dangerous situation to occur with children. Make sure that someone is watching them at all times.
• Never swim alone – last but not least, do not be caught swimming on a deserted beach. You do not want to be alone if danger occurs.