Emergency Preparedness at the Beach
As warmer weather embraces our communities, men, women and children are flocking to the beaches. Some are simply lying in the sun, trying to soak up the rays, while others are deep into a good book. Some are tossing frisbees and footballs. while others are bravely wading into the water for a dunk.
A beach day is typically seen as one of the most relaxing and carefree ways to spend a summer day. What’s not often thought of are the many dangers inherent in a day at the beach.
If you think ahead about the potential risk, and plan accordingly, then you can still go to the beach and enjoy a relaxing, enjoyable day off, knowing that you’ve put in the work.
One of the first preparatory steps you should take, before going to the beach, is a little reconnaissance. It can be as simple as googling the beach. Here are a few things you could think about:
- Find out if there are any lifeguards on duty when you’re going.
- Find out what the weather forecast is for when you’re going.
- Find out if there is drinking water available at the beach. Sometimes, people assume that a beach is a park, and can end up severely dehydrated.
Once you’re more familiar with the place you’ll be visiting, make sure you pack the necessities.
- If you’re spending a day in the hot sun, it’s incredibly important that you bring more water than you think you’ll need, and stay hydrated.
- It’s also important that you make sure someone knows you’re swimming, if you’re by yourself. Even better, you could take a swimming buddy with you. Even if you’re a strong swimmer, you never know when you might get cramps.
- It’s never a bad idea to bring a first aid kit to the beach
As a last note regarding safety at the beach, we’ll note that alcohol is not a good idea if you’re planning on going swimming. It can seem like it will add a lot of fun to the outing, but the number of people who die by drowning while drinking is astronomical.
If you’d like to read more about beach safety, try these articles:
