What every parent should know about ocean safety
The best part of summer is living that beach life, and this year many families are looking forward to enjoying the sun, sand, and waves.
Spending a day at the beach is a wonderful family bonding experience, and your children will have happy memories to last a lifetime. However, a day at the beach comes with certain hazards.
Here’s how to keep your children safe without ruining their fun!
Life jackets
Water safety at the beach differs from pool safety in that “even in shallow water, wave action can cause a loss of footing,” according to the Red Cross. As a result, the Society advises young children to wear life jackets in and around water.
Because open water, particularly the ocean, can be unpredictable, keeping children in life jackets adds an extra layer of protection should a wave suddenly overtake their sandcastle.
Teach children to face the water
Waves can knock children (especially babies and toddlers) over if they are not careful, but if they see them coming, they have a better chance of staying upright. Teach children to stand with their backs to the beach and their faces toward the ocean to avoid being surprised by waves.
Discourage children from burying their feet in the sand
It may appear to be fun to wiggle your feet into wet, underwater sand, but beach injury experts say this type of play puts children at risk of sprains and even worse injuries because wet sand can trap a child’s foot.
Take note of the jellyfish and other aquatic life
SpongeBob SquarePants enjoys chasing jellyfish, but our children should not. As many beachgoers are aware, jellyfish sting. When there are a lot of jellyfish, many public beaches have warning systems in place. Be sure to also take note of warnings about other aquatic life. A black flag means the water is too murky for the spotters to see anything, and swimming is not advised (especially near river mouths where sharks like to hang out). Meanwhile, a red flag means no swimming, a black and white flag means it’s a surfing beach only, and a red and yellow flag means a lifeguard is on duty.
Keep an eye out for rip currents
Everyone who goes to the beach should be aware of rip currents, which are powerful, channelled currents of water flowing away from shore that can quickly pull swimmers out to sea.
Because rip currents are responsible for more than 80% of lifeguard rescues, parents should check local beach forecasts before loading the kids into the car. Set up as close to the lifeguards as possible when you arrive at the beach, and if you’re unsure about the water’s conditions, ask the lifeguard before allowing the kids to swim.
Don’t forget about sun protection
Babies and young children’s bodies cannot adjust to heat as well as ours, putting them at a higher risk of heat-related illness. Babies younger than six months should be kept out of direct and indirect sunlight due to the risk of heat stroke. Avoid taking a baby outside between 10am and 2pm, when the sun’s rays are at their strongest.
If you have a young child, try to plan beach activities when the sun’s rays aren’t at their peak. Bringing your own shade, such as a beach tent or umbrella, can help, as can frequent breastmilk or formula feedings for babies and sips of water for toddlers and older children.
