Beach Dangers

We all love the beach in the summertime. The fresh scent of the ocean air. The cool breeze, the sun glimmering off the long expanse of sand. The lulling sound of the pounding surf, and the cries of circling gulls looking for a morsel to eat. The beach is a day’s respite from a hard week of work and chores, a place to spend time with your family basking in the sunlight, building sandcastles, and having splash fights in the cool waters. To ensure that your day at the beach is a happy one, there are some things that must be taken into consideration. Like everywhere else, dangers exist at the beach that you may or may not be aware of, but can be easily acknowledged and prepared for.

One thing to consider before even going to the beach is the harmful effects of the sun’s rays. A day at the beach is also a day of prolonged exposure under the harsh gaze of the sun. Be sure to pack sun block to protect yourself from this serious danger.

Also attributed to the sun is heat exhaustion. On a particularly hot day, as you run and frolic on the beach, your body is rapidly dehydrating. Make sure to bring a few bottles of water or some other beverage to keep your body hydrated, and break up your exposure to the sun by seeking to sit in the shade or under an umbrella periodically, if either is available. Try to avoid drinking alcohol or even soda, as both can serve to dehydrate you further.

When entering the water, you should be wary of rip tides, which exist mainly on beaches facing oceans. Rip tides are essentially fast-moving currents of water that pull away from the shore with a powerful amount of force, and can drag you under and out with them if you aren’t careful. Lifeguards will often fly flags or have some sort of warning system if rip tides are present.

Another warning to watch for is the presence of sharks or jellyfish in the water. Depending where you are in the world, this can be a particularly important danger to be wary of. While incidents involving sharks or jellyfish are not as common as heat exhaustion or rip tides, they exist nonetheless, and should be carefully considered if your beach is warning you of the presence of either that day.

The beaches can sometimes be overly crowded. Be sure to take a look around before moving away from your spot on the sand, so that you can find it again easily. And if you are enjoying the beach with small children, be sure to keep an eye on them at all times. Should they start to wander away, the can quickly become lost in the crowds, and it may be hard for them to hear you calling due to the noise of the crowds and the water and radios. It may be a god idea to bring along some toys or items to keep them occupied as they sit near you, thus decreasing their likeliness to wander off.

You should also take care not to leave any valuables unattended. Some beaches have lockers for you to place your keys and wallet and other items in, or you can find waterproof wallets to purchase. A quick solution is to place your money and keys in a sealable plastic bag that you can keep in your pocket while you swim, keeping the contents dry. Just be sure everything is securely in your pocket with no danger of falling out while swimming.

A storm warning will often cause beaches to close, but if not, you may still want to reconsider going to the beach if storm clouds are looming on the horizon. Lightning can strike a beach quite often during a storm, and is the actually the third deadliest threat for beachgoers every summer.

Beaches in certain areas may have their own specific threats, such as an abundance of sharp rocks or areas of ticks or poison ivy should you venture away from the sand.

Try to be aware of any dangers specific to your particular beach of choice in addition to the ones listen above. A little knowledge and preparation is all you need to make every beach day a thrilling one.