Keeping Kids Safe at the Beach

hough the beach is generally a very safe place for your child, no cars, nowhere to get lost, you do need to take some precautions to keep them from harm during your beach-house vacation. From sun to swimming, we've got the goods on beach safety. Take a look:

Protect Yourself
Just like the Boy Scouts, you should always be prepared for hazards at the beach, most importantly, sunburn and heatstroke. Make sure your child is covered in sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 25 whenever they're outdoors. Not only will it protect them from a nasty sunburn, but it will help to instill good skin-cancer avoidance habits. Remember, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer there is, with more than a million cases expected this year.

Besides your skin, you also need to protect other parts of your body. Sharp rocks and tide pools can be tough on bare feet, exposing them to bacteria and potential puncture wounds, so kids should always wear shoes in rough territory. Ultra-violet rays can damage your eyes, so try to get the kids to wear sunglasses whenever possible. Kids should be dressed comfortably in light-colored clothing to keep cool and prevent sunburn.

Safety First
Preparation cannot take the place of vigilance, though, so you'll need to keep an eye on the kids at all times. Be sure that you pay attention to posted surf warnings, and have them swim only where there is a lifeguard.

Teach your kids about swimming dangers such as the undertow. Remember, if you find yourself caught in the undertow, unable to overcome the force pulling you away from the shore, you should swim parallel to the shore until you get past the area affected by the currents. Don't panic. Swimmers who panic try to fight the currents, wearing themselves out until they risk drowning.

Watch out for jellyfish and other stinging animals such as sea anemones and corals. If you are stung, rinse the affected body part with isopropyl alcohol, vinegar or seawater, and scrape or shave the areas gently to remove any remaining stingers. Do not rub the area or rinse with fresh water or tap water. Acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen will help ease pain, and antihistamines such as Benadryl can relieve itching and swelling. If symptoms are severe, or if signs of anaphylactic reaction are present, seek medical help immediately.

Keep Cool
Kids running around in the hot sun all day are at risk of developing heatstroke or heat exhaustion. Try to get them to stay out of the sun during the hottest hours of the day: from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. And be sure that your kids stay hydrated by calling them back home for a Kool Aid break every hour or so.

While they're re-hydrating, monitor the kids for signs of heatstroke, which include headache, dizziness, muscle weakness or cramps, and nausea and vomiting. Get medical help right away if they have any of these warning signs: Hot, dry skin; confusion or loss of consciousness; frequent vomiting; shortness of breath or trouble breathing.

For more information on keeping your kids safe at the beach, check out our Kids' Safety Resource Guide.

Kids' Safety Resource Guide

Common sense and a few simple precautions should keep your kids safe and healthy at the beach. For further reading on the subject, click on the links below:

Prevent drowning with swimming safety information from the National Safety Council.
www.nsc.org/pubs/fsh/archive/summr99/pool.htm

The ABCs of Fun in the Sun, from the American Academy of Dermatologists.
www.aad.org/pamphlets/ABCsFunSun.html

Article about skin injuries from marine animals, from the American Academy of Dermatologists
www.aad.org/PressReleases/beach.html

Beach Watch, from the EPA's Office of Water. Find out about pollution and health conditions at beaches all over the U.S.
www.epa.gov/OST/beaches/

Article on heat-related illnesses from the American Academy of Family Physicians.
www.familydoctor.org/handouts/088.html

Comprehensive Lifeguard site on safety issues, with a section on beach safety.
www.sannet.gov/lifeguards/safety/bchsafe.shtml