Going to the beach can be a fun time for the whole family. It can also be a time of tragedy. Before you take to the ocean and the sand, you should know a few terms and safety tips.

1. Rip Tides - These are actually undercurrents that push away from the shore. If you find your self being swept out to sea you should swim parallel to the shore instead of trying to fight the current and swim into the shore. By swimming parallel to the shore you will break out of the current and then be able to make your way in easily.

2. Sharks – Although they are dangerous predators, they do not hunt man. Typically the only people who are attacked are those that get between a shark and its dinner. Don’t swim during the pre-dawn and dawn hours and don’t swim at dusk. Also, be aware of the locations of bait fish (you can check local beach forecasts to find out). Staying away from dinner will keep you from becoming an appetizer.

3. Sand - Digging holes at the beach is almost a rite of passage for most people. Keep in mind that sand is NOT stable and the walls could easily collapse. Do not dig holes deep enough to get into because of the risk of being buried alive. Stick to sand castles instead.

4. Jellyfish - These are the glass looking (or jelly-like) blobs found along the water’s edge and floating on the waves during certain seasons. The tentacles are full of venom and can inflict painful stings (even resulting in death). Be sure to check with your location to find out the height of jellyfish season (and avoid visiting during those months).

5. Sting Rays - These creatures have received more attention since the highly publicized death of Steve Irwin. If you are swimming in an area where stingrays frequent, keep in mind that they lay quietly on the bottom of the ocean. They usually only sting when they are disturbed or stepped on. Avoid an accidentally encounter by shuffling your feet through the sand anytime you walk in the water. This is likely to make the stingray move to a different location.

The beach can be a fun and exciting place, but it is still a wild environment. Be aware of the dangers and take a few precautions and your vacation will likely be safe and enjoyable.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 4th, 2008 at 6:58 pm and is filed under Adventure Travel, Family Travel, Travel Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.