A day at the beach should be relaxing and fun. To assist you in your enjoyment of the area beaches, here are a few safety precautions to remember.

Here are some safety precautions for spending a day at the beach:

SWIM ONLY WHERE THERE ARE LIFEGUARDS. St Lucie County has twelve (12) lifeguard stations along the following beaches:

• Pepper Park
• South Jetty Park
• South Beach Boardwalk
• Kimberly Bergalis Park
• Surfside Park
• Jaycee Park
• Fredrick Douglas Park
• Waveland Beach

KNOW WHAT THE LIFEGUARD FLAGS MEAN!

• Green Flag: Calm surf conditions
• Yellow Flag: Moderate surf conditions, exercise caution
• Blue Flag: Dangerous marine life
• Red Flag: No swimming allowed Dangerous conditions (Strong surf, strong currents)

NEVER SWIM, SURF, DIVE or SAIL ALONE! Always engage in water activities with friends or family. In sea or pool, remember the rule - take care and be aware. It is always best to remember the ” buddy ” rule. If you are alone then there is no one to help you. It is best to enjoy your activities in an area that is supervised by Lifeguards.

Drink Water/Juices. If you are spending more time in the sun than you are used to, drink more water than you would normally drink. The more water you drink, the less your skin will feel tight, and the less risk of developing Sun Stroke. Also try adding fruit juice into the mix.

Things to be aware of:

Sunstroke is a life-threatening condition in which the body’s heat-regulating system fails, due to exposure to high temperatures. Sunstroke can occur when the body’s mechanisms to rid itself of excess heat are overwhelmed by a very hot or humid environment, or strenuous physical activity. People particularly susceptible to sunstroke are young children, the elderly, individuals not used to physical activity and concomitant excessive sun exposure. Symptoms of sunstroke include elevated body temperature; hot, dry skin; hyperventilation; mental confusion; and eventual unconsciousness. The primary treatment goal for sunstroke is to lower the elevated body temperature rapidly in a controlled fashion. Sunstroke can be prevented by drinking plenty of water and avoiding overtaxing the body in hot weather and while exercising.

Beware of Rip Currents - Think of a rip current like a treadmill that cannot be turned off - you need to step to the side of it to be free. Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim at an angle away from the current towards shore. If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore. If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by waving your arm and yelling for help.

If you happen to get stung by a Jellyfish or Man of War, you need to pick off any tentacles with a gloved hand or stick. Rinse the sting with salt or fresh water. Apply ammonia and water compress liberally onto the sting. Vinegar is NOT recommended for Portuguese man-of-war stings. Apply ammonia compress for 30 minutes or until pain is relieved. If the victim has a large area involved (entire arm leg, face, or genitals), is very young, very old, or shows any signs of generalized illness or loss of breath, seek help from a doctor.

Its very easy to get more sun than you realize you have gotten. Make sure you use at least an SPF 15. The more water you drink the easier it will be to recover from bad sunburn. Stay hydrated. Take a hot shower (almost hotter than you can stand) - this helps to take the sting out. And after your shower, use an aloe or lanicain based lotion to help relieve the pain.

Stay away from Alcoholic Beverages. Remember you are already dehydrated from spending the day out in the sun. Do not add to the damage by spending the evening drinking alcoholic beverages. If you must, drink one glass of water for every alcoholic drink you consume.