Beach Trip Safety Tips
Planning a trip to the beach with the family? Before you go, you should do more than just remember to bring your sunscreen. Beaches can be an extremely lucrative location for criminals. Large crowds of people having fun in the sun are easy, distracted targets. It’s not just theft you are at risk for on the beach! If you want to make sure your day in the sun isn’t spoiled, check out our safety tips for how to be safe from nature and crime at the beach!
Having your stuff snatched is a quick way to ruin an otherwise fun day, and it’s not just what you bring to the beach that’s at risk of being stolen. If a criminal happens to walk away with your keys and drivers license, they can take your vehicle, find your address on your license, drive to your house and walk right in to your home. Having a home security system is the best way to keep your home safe while you’re at the beach. With professional monitoring and home security cameras, alerts will notify monitoring staff that something is amiss or an intruder enters your home and can alert local law enforcement to respond.
Don’t Fry Your Skin!
There are a number of safety risks present at the beach, but the most common threat is getting sun burnt. No surprise there. However, it’s important to understand that a sun burn can do a LOT more damage than you may think. UV radiation from sunlight is far and away the leading cause of skin cancer. Melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, is VASTLY more common in people who have experienced a few severe sunburns. In fact, recent studies show that in America, 1 in 5 people will have to deal with skin cancer before the age of 70.
The solution is simple. Don’t put yourself at risk! You should reapply sunscreen every two hours you are outside in the sun, more frequently if you are sweating or swimming. Use SPF 30 or higher, and make sure you apply sunscreen to every area which is exposed to the sun.
Take Steps to Swim Safely
If you’re hitting the beach with the intention of swimming, there are some big rules to understand if you wish to keep safety in mind.
- Go with friends! A beach trip is a great social activity, and there is safety in numbers. If a disaster occurs while swimming, having someone who can rush to get help is a must.
- Understand safety flags! Rip currents, marine life, and watercrafts can pose serious dangers for swimmers. Knowing what a raised flag means can keep you from setting foot in treacherous waters.
- Stick to beaches with lifeguards. In 2009, 82,969 lifeguard rescues were recorded across 114 different reporting agencies. Don’t take a risk, choose a beach with a lifeguard.
- Know how react if caught in a rip current. A rip current can VERY easily overpower a swimmer and pull them out to sea. Staying calm is the best thing to do. Don’t fight the current. Let it carry you until it weakens. Once it does, swim parallel to the beach until you are out of the current, then swim diagonally to the shore.
Keep Your Possessions Protected
Beaches are perfect for thieves. There are plenty people, lots of distractions, and a plethora of goodies laying around while beach-goers are napping in the sun, playing beach volleyball, or taking a dip in the ocean. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to keep your possessions safe while at the beach. There are a few nifty devices that can purchase, such as portable safes designed for beach trips, or waterproof body pouches. It’s also wise to set up next to a Lifeguard station.
Don’t let a trip to the beach be spoiled. Take the right precautions and have a fantastic day in the sun!