Today is National Beach Day, so you have the perfect excuse to head to the seaside with your entire family! As parents, you need to know some safety rules to ensure that your beach time is joyful and stress-free. These rules will not only make your time enjoyable at the seaside but will also keep your kids and loved ones safe from accidents.
Swim around the lifeguard station
Swimming around or near the lifeguard station is always safer than straying away from it. In addition to being there to rescue you or your children, if the need arises, lifeguards can instantly warn or alert you to dangerous swimming conditions that require you to come out of the water immediately. Hence, teach this essential safety rule to your kids. Tell them to always listen to the lifeguard’s instructions and stay in the designated area only.
Read the signs and communicate them to the kids
Before letting the little ones run free on the beach or in the water, be aware of the precautions needed. Read the signs to learn the dos and don’ts and communicate them to your children. Tell them the meaning of the signs, which will further educate them about water safety.
For instance, a green flag indicates there is no particular danger, but kids must always be supervised. Purple flags indicate the presence of sting rays, jellyfish, or other dangerous marine life, which everyone should be careful of.
Children should be prohibited from throwing sand, splashing water on others, and going into the water alone. As parents, you must ensure your children follow this beach safety rule.
Dress the kids in brightly colored hats
Keeping an eye on the kids on a crowded beach can be tricky, even when they are only a few feet away. Hence, make sure your children wear brightly colored hats or costumes so that you can spot them easily in the water or on the beach. Also, for their safety, they should be taught about stranger danger. Making your kids wear safety bracelets is also a good idea to keep them safe and alert you if the need arises.
Use sunscreen properly while going to the beach
This is a safety rule that everyone in your family should follow to prevent skin damage. Sunscreen should be applied 15 to 30 minutes before heading outdoors so it has time to dry. It should be reapplied after swimming or sweating. It takes about 1 ounce of sunscreen to cover the body adequately.
Stay well hydrated when on the beach
With all the playing, running, and water activities on the beach, you and your kids might get dehydrated quickly, which can lead to dizziness and other issues. Hence, ensure you all are well hydrated to prevent heat-related illness.
Also, parents should avoid consuming alcohol while on the beach as it can dehydrate you easily and place you in a dangerous situation. You might even have difficulty helping your child if needed. Being alert is extremely important while at the beach, so alcohol consumption with kids playing in the water is a no-no.
Make kids wear Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices
This is one of the most important beach safety rules every parent must follow. Ensure your children or non-swimmers in your family only wear Coast Guard-approved life jackets or personal floatation devices to prevent accidental drowning or any other accidents.
Opt for bathing suits with a high UPF
Consider purchasing a bathing suit and cover-up for your child for extra sun protection. The higher the suit or cover-up’s UPF number, the greater the degree of UV protection it offers. Also, ensure you and your kids wear sunglasses that protect against harmful UVA and UVB rays. Sunburn is no joke, so doing the best we can is our duty as parents.
Choose a meeting place
Choose a landmark where you will all meet in case someone gets lost. A lifeguard chair or a particular food stall can be a good meeting place. If you have little ones, point it out to them multiple times after reaching the beach so the information sticks while they enjoy their playtime.
Enter water feet first
Another major safety rule that every parent must follow is to walk into the water and shuffle feet instead of diving head first, as it can cause neck injuries or other serious lifelong impairments.
Wear footwear while on beach
Make sure you and your kids wear sandals or flip-flops while on the beach. This will prevent you from stepping on broken shells or glass shards, which could lead to severe wounds. Hence, scan the area first and allow the children to be barefoot only if it’s clean. Otherwise, ask them to wear flip-flops.
Heading to the beach with kids can be stressful, but following these basic safety rules will maximize your safety and fun in the sun.
