Beach Safety

In coastal areas when you think summer, you think surf and sand.  The beach can be a lot of fun or a parents worst nightmare.  So here are a few tips to make the beach (or swimming pool) less dangerous than it otherwise would be.

Sunscreen: no one likes being burnt, but how often do you have to reapply to keep your skin happy?  I'm rather fair of skin and burn easily so I go for a minimum of SPF 30 and reapply every hour and a half - or two hours if I'm not actually in the water.  These sunscreen breaks are good not only to keep skin from going lobster red but they also give you a chance to check in with your children and see how they are doing?  Are they still full of energy or are they about ready to fall asleep where they stand?  Kids don't pay good attention to their energy levels and if allowed would likely bounce in a bounce house until they were no longer physically able.

Lifeguards: they are not babysitters but they do make playing in the water dramatically safer.  So unless you feel abundantly confident in your ability to be your child's personal lifeguard, stick to bodies of water with a lifeguard on duty.  (Yes that means you might have to do some research to find out when and where the life guards will be.)  Because though you may be lifeguard certified at a pool or beach, that does not necessarily mean you are aware of all that is going on below the water at a random beach with with no lifeguard present.  Sometimes the reason for a lack of lifeguard tower is more than economic, some beaches are flat out not recommended to be on.  (Generally there are signs and people ignoring said signs, but it's up to you to keep your family safe.)

Buddy system: water can be dangerous. You never know when you might experience an unexpected cramp or any number of other things that would ruin your day (or equal your last day) if you had the misfortune of experiencing them alone.   Do your part when you are in a group and keep each other safe.

Safety point: if you have small children one rule that can keep things safe and fun is "don't pass the adult" or "stay near an adult" basically saying your kids can't go deeper than the nearest adult  (from your group).  This also keeps them close by so you can protect them from a sudden large wave, random animals, or strangers.  The beach is a terrifying place to lose a child, don't let it happen to yours.

Non-swimmers:  If your child doesn't know how to swim the message of safety point goes double.  If you are going to let a non-swimming child near the waves, I recommend holding his or her hand(s).  That way if a wave comes that would be too high for your child, you can easily pick them up and keep them from getting a mouth full of sea water.

I want to touch it: get your child to let you know what they want to pick up before they pick it up.  Rocks and empty seashells are cool, broken glass and jellyfish are bad bad ideas.  Basically if your child isn't old enough to have some sense about what they pick up, make them ask you first or tell them not to in general.