With summer upon us, there are few things that are more perfect for this time of year than the sun, sand, and sea. Indeed, the nation’s Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) reports that Americans visit the beach two billion times every year. That being said, a relaxing summer weekend or weekday trip can turn sour. While the worst of most people’s summer is a bad sunburn that can be cured with aloe vera and time, some people suffer serious injuries due to accidents at the beach.
Summer Safety Tips
Before heading out, you should have an action plan together to keep you and your loved ones safe. Below are seven tips to help keep you safe this summer:
- Watch Out, Obey, and Understand Warning Signs: Many beaches across the country have different colored flags and assigned meanings to warn the public about potential dangers. If you do not understand what the posted signs mean, make sure to ask a lifeguard or other official before proceeding
- Check Weather First: Before heading out anywhere, make sure to look up what the weather is like and what it will be while you are there. If there is thunder or lightning in the forecast, it is best to stay away and plan the trip for another (safer) time
- Know How to Swim: The summer causes many to visit bodies of water – whether natural or man-made. For this reason, it is important for everyone in your group to either have basic swimming skills down or have floatation devices that will be used at all times. Also keep in mind that the ocean floor can drop suddenly, so do not move out into the deep quickly without expecting to have to swim
- Settle Down Near a Lifeguard: Because most drownings happen at unguarded beach sites, make sure you stay near a lifeguard if you plan to swim. Since the current will naturally pull you away from the shore, be aware of where you started and make your way back to that spot regularly
- Watch Out for Rip Currents: Rip currents – when waves breakout unevenly, causing circulation in the water that results in a strong channel extending from the shore – can be deadly. These tend to form near a shallow point in the water or by watercrafts and can pull down even the strongest of swimmers
- Protect Your Skin: Keep sunburns at bay by lathering yourself up – and your loved ones – with a broad-spectrum sunscreen that is at least SPF 15. Use umbrellas, hats, tents, and other sources of shade as protection. Just one sunburn increases the risk of melanoma and more than five sunburns doubles that risk over your lifetime
- Hydrate and Eat: Just a few hours of baking under the sun can cause heat stroke, heat exhaustion, or sun poisoning. Keeping hydrated and well-fueled can help fight off
Before heading out, you should have an action plan together to keep you and your loved ones safe.
To consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer today
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Summer Legal Help
If you or someone you care about has been injured in an accident this summer due to the fault of another, contact the personal injury attorneys at Bogin, Munns & Munns, P.A. Our experienced lawyers have been protecting the rights of the injured for more than 35 years and can help fight for the compensation you deserve. Schedule your free personal injury consultation.
NOTICE: The article above is not intended to serve as legal advice, and you should not rely on it as such. It is offered only as general information. You should consult with a duly licensed attorney regarding your Florida legal matter, as every situation is unique. Please know that merely reading this article, subscribing to this blog, or otherwise contacting Bogin, Munns & Munns does not establish an attorney-client relationship with our firm. Should you seek legal representation from Bogin, Munns & Munns, any such representation must first be agreed to by the firm and confirmed in a written agreement.
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