Beach Time

There’s no better place to hang out in the summer than the beach. How could you not love the sun glistening off the beautiful sea waters, the seagulls trying to eat your food, the annoying people next to you blasting unknown music. Ahh summer time. Living in Florida I go to the beach a lot. i decided to write about a few essential tips everyone should follow when going to the beach. For one, sunscreen is very important. If you do not wear enough you are exposing your skin to harmful UV rays, but if you wear too much you may dry out your skin or cause serious damage. For the most part you should avoid sun exposure between the hours of 10:00AM-3:00PM. Use a sunscreen that has at least 15SPF, the high number the better protection it provides. Children should use nothing lower than 30SPF and you should consult your pediatrician about baby sun exposure. Don’t forget to protect your lips too using a 15SPF lip balm. Also, always keep a bottle of aloe-based cream or gel to sooth your skin after being in the sun. it works wonders. Don’t forget to bring cover-ups such as sun glasses, hats, and protective clothing. A great investment would be a beach umbrella or a tent; many times these items go on sale at stores like Target, WalMart, ect. The sand gets hot too so bring a beach blanket or an extra towel to lie on. The most imperative tip of them all is to keep yourself hydrated. Drink plenty of water and keep your snacks healthy, such as, fresh fruit, cold sandwiches, carrots/celery, etc.


Also, be aware of your surroundings and keep in mind that around August and September its jellyfish season. Last year I had a terrible experience with that when I went to Key West. For those who don’t know, Jellyfish can be more harmful than they appear with long, spindly tentacles that can inflict red welts and severe pain. I even discovered that they don’t even have to sting you to release venom and harm you. Don’t clean the area with drinking water it will make you itch more, use sea water instead. If you have vinegar, rubbing alcohol, or baking soda use it. if you have any remove the tentacles with tweezers. Next, apply shaving cream and shave the area with a butter knife or tongue blade. Reapply vinegar or cortisone cream. Please contact your doctor if any of the following symptoms develop: nausea, vomiting, joint pain, headache, shortness of breath or a stumbling gait. I had to take antibiotics for a week and half and I wasn’t even stung directly. {Please note that the information I provided as a guide is not intended to be taken as medical advice.}