BEACH SAFETY
Sunscreens
Sunscreens protect you against 'sunburn' and may help reduce the risk of skin cancer. Use sunscreen everytime you expose yourself to the sun. Use as high a rating (SPF number) as you can find. Sunscreens with zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or avobenzone are thought to provide better protection against UVA, the sun's rays that are believed to cause skin cancers.
Apply a generous amount of sunscreen at least '30 minutes' before going out into the sun and then re-apply it at least every hour. Re-apply it more often if you perspire and after each time you go swimming. Apply it even on cloudy or overcast days. You can get a sunburn even through a cloud cover.
Use higher rated sunscreens on body areas that need more protection like your nose, ears, neck, shoulders and the tops of your feet.
Keep the sunscreen away from your eyes.
Sunburn Relief Tips
Mild Sunburn - Your skin is pink, feels hot and is sensitive to the touch. Apply an over-the-counter sunburn remedy.
Moderate Sunburn - Your skin is red, feels like it's burning and stings and itches when anything touches it. Ouch! Take an aspirin and apply a steroid cream (if you have one) to the worst affected areas.
Severe Sunburn - Your skin is red, you may have blisters, and perhaps even chills, fever and nausia. See a doctor immediately.
THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. It's what others have found to help and is good common sense.
Don't let a happy day on the beach become a night of misery.
Protect yourself from getting too much sun. Sunlight contains ultraviolet rays (UVA) that increase the risk of skin cancer no matter how much sunscreen you use, and in any case exposure to the sun can cause severe sunburn. Everyone should use sunscreen lotion. If you are fair skinned or older stay out of the sun completely between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and wear a sunscreen lotion with as high a rating as you can find.
The tropical sun near the equator is far more intense than in the northern or southern hemispheres ALL YEAR ROUND. One (1) hour of tropical sun is probably eqivalent to four (4) hours or more of summer sun in a northern or southern latitude. So in the tropics, and for the first day especially, limit the amount of time (calculated in minutes, not hours) that you expose your skin directly to the sun. And remember that the sun is on you even when you are in the water swimming. Also, if you snorkle, wear a t-shirt.
Wear a hat. The French Legionaires in those old movies had a good reason for wearing those hats with the cloth hanging down over the back of their necks. There is nothing macho about sunburn.
Also remember to wear good protective sunglasses. The tropical sun is far more intense than in cooler climes and can be almost blinding, especially when it's dancing off the water.
Save those 'frosties' for the evening after you've left the beach.
Drink lots of water when you're on the beach even if you're not thirsty. You need water to stay cool. Avoid drinks with alcohol. They do not cool you off because they dehydrate your body. Save those beers for after you've left the beach entirely for the day.
If you are going to participate in water sports, do not drink alcohol of any sort.
Keep Your Children Safe Around Water
Keep a vigilant eye on your children when you are around water regardless of how safe it looks or how good swimmers they are. Don't watch from a lounge chair forty yards up the beach. If they go in the water, go in with them.
General Beach Swimming Safety Tips
Stay inside designated swimming areas in view of a lifeguard if there is one. Keep in mind that many beaches have no established 'lifeguard' programs or safety areas. So DON'T swim alone. Use the buddy system.
Check conditions with locals before you get in the water. Check for warning flags, which are posted in most areas if swimming is dangerous. Keep in mind that ocean swimming is a lot different than other types of swimming. Even moderate sized sea waves can have a significant undertow. Currents that run along the shore can sweep a swimmer out to sea if one strays too far out and gets caught in them. If you are caught in a current never try to swim against it. Swim across it until you are out of it. This may mean swimming along the shore for some time rather than towards it.
Stay clear of hazardous areas such as boats, piers, pilings, diving platforms, cliffs, rock formations, underwater caves, etc. when swimming. If snorkling or scuba diving always take an exerienced local guide along with you.
Exotic sea creatures are fascinating but don't disturb them. Also, ask locals about jellyfish or other potentially harmful sea life before swimming in any area.
