Beach Safety Reminders
With warmer temperatures and spring break right around the corner, we thought it would be a good time for some reminders on beach safety. The beaches in Destin, Florida are about to get busier and there are a few things to look over that may come in handy for you and your friends.
The Beach Flag System provides general warnings about surf conditions and knowing what each color means can help you decide if it’s a good day to be swimming. A red flag is high hazard and double red means the water is closed to the public. Knowing when there are strong currents can influence your decision on letting small children in the surf as well. If a rip current ever pulls you away from shore, swim parallel to the shore to escape it rather than fighting the current.
The purple flag at the beach represents marine pests such as jellyfish or stingrays. Which brings us to how you treat a jellyfish sting. On occasion, these beautiful yet irritating creatures show up near the shore and you might get stung. Some people like to keep a small container of vinegar in their beach gear for such an occurrence. Rinse the wound to be sure any tentacles are removed and apply vinegar for at least 30 seconds. You can also make a baking soda paste to help relieve pain and/or swelling. Sometimes jellyfish wash ashore but are still very capable of stinging you so it’s best to avoid even these.
Summer months at the beach can be intense so it’s important to stay hydrated. The more your body sweats, the more fluid you need to replace. It’s not uncommon to spend hours swimming in the Gulf or taking advantage of a convenient beach bar and before you know it, you haven’t had any water all day. To avoid heat stroke or exhaustion, pack water in your beach gear and drink regularly so as not to become dehydrated.
One of the top ways to ruin your beach vacation is to get sunburnt. Apply sunblock before getting to the beach so you’re sure you’re covered and continue to reapply throughout the day. You can get nice and comfy on your beach towel in the heat of the day and fall right asleep, waking up to a new crispy layer of skin. While you may have prepped with a base tan before your trip, the sun’s rays are intensified by reflection off sand and water so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
We want everyone to have a memorable (in a good way) trip to the Emerald Coast and hope you’ll consider these safety tips when you’re headed to the beach. Accommodations can be made at Destin condos on or near the beach to make your next vacation one for the books!
Published on Wednesday, February 22, 2017