10 ways to be safe on the beach this 4th of July holiday weekend

The long Fourth of July weekend is a popular time for many people to spend part of their holiday at the beach, and the American Red Cross offers 10 steps people should take to be safe while enjoying fun in the sand and surf.

A recent Red Cross survey found that eight out of 10 families are planning water activities such as going to the beach, pool, waterpark, boating or fishing this summer. The Red Cross has launched an anti-drowning campaign that promotes swim lessons and safe swimming.

“If a trip to the beach is part of someone’s holiday plans, the Red Cross has 10 tips that will help beachgoers stay out of harm’s way and enjoy their holiday,” said Kennedy Benjamin, service delivery manager at the American Red Cross NMI Chapter.

1. If someone plans to swim in the ocean, they should always check weather conditions before going in the water.

2. Always swim with a buddy.

3. Never swim while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

4. Young children and inexperienced swimmers should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.

5. Everyone should enter the water feet first if they can’t see the bottom or don’t know how deep the water is.

6. Be aware of the danger of rip currents. If caught in one, swim parallel to the shore until out of the current. When free, turn and swim toward shore. If unable to swim to the shore, call out for help, float or tread water until free of the rip current and then head toward shore.

7. Limit the amount of direct sunlight received between 10am and 4pm, and wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 15. Reapply often.

8. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water regularly, even if not thirsty. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them.

9. Protect the eyes by wearing sunglasses that will absorb 100 percent of UV sunlight.

10. Wear beach shoes. The sand is hot and can burn someone’s feet and glass and other sharp objects can cut them.

Free Swim and First Aid apps

Another thing people can do is download the free Red Cross Swim and First Aid Apps. Swim App users can learn water safety and drowning prevention information for a variety of aquatic environments. Children can have fun learning water safety tips with the child-friendly videos and quizzes in the app. The First Aid App puts expert advice for everyday emergencies at someone’s fingertips. The apps are available for smart phones and tablets and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for Android. The Swim App is also available in the Amazon Kindle Store.

More water safety information is available at redcross.org. (ARC)