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Get Your Family "Beach-Ready" This Summer
Life's a beach — at least
when it's summertime in
New Jersey. If a trip to the
beach is on your schedule, here
are some tips to help you stay out
of harm's way.
"Before you head to the
beach, consider checking with
the local environmental office
to see if your beach is regularly
monitored for health hazards
such as pollution," says Robert
Sweeney, D.O., medical director
of Emergency Services at Jersey
Shore University Medical Center.
When you're ready to go,
think about packing these items:
- Sandals to protect your feet
- Hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher — even on cloudy days
- An umbrella or canopy for shade
- Plastic bottles of water to help you stay cool and hydrated
- Loose-fitting clothing for everyone
- A cooler with ice packs to keep cold foods at or below 40° F
- Moist towelettes to clean hands
When You Hit the Sand
To avoid any mishaps while you're at
the beach:
- Use only designated areas of the beach
where a lifeguard is on duty. "Look for
warning flags or signs about hazards
on the beach or in the water, such as germs that can make your family sick,"
says David Neckritz, D.O., chair of the
Department of Emergency Medicine at
Ocean Medical Center.
- To make sure little ones are safe in the
water, keep them no more than an arm's
length away.
- If you get stuck in a current or riptide,
don't try to swim against it, but across it.
- Toss perishable food if it has sat out for
more than two hours.
- Teach young explorers to leave animals
alone, since marine life could be "crabby."
- Protect your beach by using trash cans
or taking trash home.
Set Sail for Safer Boating
Careful actions aboard a boat can keep
everyone safe and your trip afloat:
- Don't drink alcohol aboard. It affects your judgment and coordination.
- Pay attention to weather forecasts. Head for the shore as soon as you see or hear a storm.
- "Make sure the whole boating party wears life jackets," says Howard Rubinstein, M.D., medical director of Emergency Services
at Riverview Medical Center. "About 90 percent of people who die in boating accidents aren't wearing flotation devices."
- Keep a first aid kit aboard.
- If you're a guest, only set sail with experienced boat operators.
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