Summer Safety Series….Part I
Wednesday, June 1st, 2011Summer is back and while that means good times at the beach, the parks, and for other recreational activities, it can also mean that its time to implement a few safety precautions while having all kinds of family fun. Here are 3 ways, in my 3-part series on summer safety to keep your family safe and eco-friendly at the same time! Read more at https://ultimateprepping.com/best-bushcraft-knife/
The Beach:
Who doesn’t love a day at the beach with family and friends? Whether your fortunate enough to live near the beach or your just visiting on vacation, here are some things to keep in mind when laying on the sand or getting in the water.
Do the Stingray Shuffle!
Depending on which beach your visiting, there are almost always stingrays and they feed right at the edge of the water. Make sure you teach the kids a good rule of thumb when walking into the waves known as the stingray shuffle. As your walking into the water don’t lift your feet from the sand, instead your going to want to shuffle your feet, sort of kicking up the sand as you move to your destination in the water. This scares off the stingrays, letting them know that something is coming in the water and to move! If by some chance someone in your group is stung by a stingray, here are some first aid rules that you need to quickly and aptly apply.
Stingray wounds are very serious and painful so alert a lifeguard or call 911 immediately for medical attention!
In the event that there is no lifeguard available, the first thing to do is to get fresh water to soak the wound. The hotter the better for pain relief!
The stinger needs to be removed with tweezers.
Do not close up the wound but instead apply pressure to stop the bleeding.
Apply a topical antibiotic if available and get the patient to the hospital quickly for proper medical care.
Prevent Sunburn!
This one may seem like a given but I can’t begin to tell you the countless times that people I know thought they’d be okay without the application of sunscreen for even an hour! If your spending time at the beach, I recommend an SPF of 30 and higher! If you have fair or freckled skin, apply with an SPF of 45 and higher for extra protection! Always reapply several times and try not to hit the beach during the hottest part of the day, which is between noon and 2pm. Be sure to purchase reef-safe, family-safe sunscreen approved by the Environmental Working Group to keep toxins off our family’s bodies and out of the environment. The Green Halloween team loves the clean and effective sun care line from Smart Girls Who Surf.
In the event that you or someone in your group does get a sunburn, here is what you can do to relieve the pain and heal it faster.
Drink plenty of fluids because a sunburn indicates that your body is dehydrated from the inside/out.
Apply aloe vera or all-natural topical ointments like Burn Out from My Mama’s Love to the burnt areas of your skin in a gentle manner.
Take a cool water bath.
Wear loose cotton clothing for comfort.
Prevent Dehydration!
Many people are drinking alcoholic beverages while at the beach or they simply don’t drink enough fluids. Bring a small iced chest filled with ice and an eco-friendly, reusable water bottle that keeps your fluids cold while your off playing in the water. (If you have an alcoholic beverage, equal that with a glass of water because your losing fluids more quickly in the sun.) In case of emergency, the ice will melt and become your back up plan for water since many people don’t bring enough to drink on their visit to the beach, underestimating the power of the sun.
Blogger Laurali Star can be found on The Damsel in the Attic and her blog.