Summer is here and so is our dream to have a long vacation, travel across the ocean to a gorgeous destination, relax next to a calm beach, and when the heat creeps to inside our bones, we can go for a quick swim to refresh, but do you dare?
The beach can be a dangerous place as much as it is beautiful, and by that, I don’t mean the oil or pollution because that alone can be a different subject. However, there are many things we should consider before stepping to the arms of the sea in order to stay safe and healthy.
Trust me, those blue, shiny waters could truly hold one, or in this case, seven nightmares. So be careful of the most dangerous things that exist on the beach.
Heat Stroke
According to CDC (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), heat stroke is a common and serious issue on the beaches across the United States.
The reason is the heat exhaustion and dehydration because heat strokes happen when there is an extremely high temperature that can cause the body’s temperature to increase to 104°F (40°C). Therefore, the body will not be able to cool itself down properly, and that could possibly lead to a heat stroke.
The common symptoms are weakness, nausea, fatigue, incoherence, muscle cramps, and vomiting. To prevent this issue, you should drink plenty of fluids, reduce outdoor activities during summer, and stay out of direct sunlight.
Deadly Superbugs
You know that feeling when the weather starts to warm up, you start wearing your cute shorts and sandals, but suddenly, you start to find weird bugs everywhere.
This thought only could make you “give up” summer, and it turned out that you –kinda- should because there are superbugs that are resistant to traditional antibiotics and can be deadly. They are basically living among us and especially on the beach.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the superbugs basically are the bacteria that can cause serious skin infections, leading to life-threatening infections in the lungs, bones, and other organs. Not swimming will not protect you from these bacteria, but the best way to avoid it is to always take a shower before and after swimming.
Jellyfish
Jellyfish are stunning creatures that make you wonder but don’t be fooled because they can cause some real pain, and sometimes it could lead to death, too. The most common ones are scyphozoans, and luckily, they are not very poisonous, but one sting could cause extreme pain, itchiness, and a red rash that could last to a few days, maybe weeks!
The best way to protect yourself is by swimming with footwear on, and by keeping an eye for any dangerous marine life. According to CDC, if you ever got stung by a jellyfish, you must ask a health professional for the right treatment depending on the species.
Sharks
These toothy fish could be a real threat on the beach, especially this year. The “shark attacks” made a big splash lately in the news claiming that people saw one or two swimming around. However, you should know that sharks are also scared of humans.
In fact, the populations of many shark species dropped by 50% in the waters of U.S. eastern seaboard, and some have fallen by 90%.
In any case, keep in mind that sharks can be deadly, so make sure to do a quick search on the area where you want to swim freely and see if there was any spotting of that big, scary fish.
Sunburn
Getting a tan may be one of our favorite things to do in summer, but sitting too much under the sun could lead to unpleasant surprises that are far away from getting any tan. The sun sends out ultraviolet light that goes through the skin, kills your cells, and causes cancer.
In fact, 90% of skin cancers are caused by the extreme exposure to the sun. Never forget to apply sunscreen with an SPF every two hours (at least!), and always cover yourself from the direct sunlight.
E. coli
The warm, beautiful sands may seem very welcoming, but it also hides a dangerous bacteria. E. coli was found on all the beaches around the country and that indicates fecal contamination, which led to many beach closures. According to CDC, symptoms of E .coli poisoning are bloody diarrhea, vomiting, mild fever, and severe abdominal pain.
In order to stay away from the bacteria buffet of the beach in both water and sand, you must avoid swallowing any water while swimming and wash your hands regularly, especially before eating and after using the bathroom.
Rip currents
According to the U.S. Lifesaving Association, more than 100 drowning occur every year on the beaches because of rip currents in the United States. The currents are mostly narrow and have fast-moving streams that take a different direction away from the shore, and so they happen mostly when the waves break strongly or after a storm.
NOAA advises swimmers to stay calm when they are caught in one and to not try to fight them, just simply swim out of the current, then swim at an angle far from it and towards the shore.