What’s more delightful than spending long and languid days of summer in Myrtle Beach, spread out on the beach soaking up sunshine? Pretty much nothing.
But it’s important to remember that as much as we enjoy the beach, we also have to respect the power of the ocean—it’s a natural force with which we need to remember to practice great care!
Here are five key beach safety tips we urge you to consider as you make your way to Myrtle Beach’s sandy beaches this summer:
1.Swim Sober
The sad fact is, among adolescents and adults, alcohol use is a factor in as many as 70% of all water recreation deaths. Drinking can affect your coordination and judgment—especially when you’re dealing with sun and heat—and both of those things are key to ocean safety.
2.Know Your Beach Flags
Make sure you know what the beach flags that the lifeguards put out mean. A green flag means conditions are calm, a yellow flag means there is moderate surf and/or currents, and red means danger/no swimming allowed.
3.Swim in the Ocean in Areas with a Lifeguard
Myrtle Beach provides lifeguards on public beaches all summer long, and they can be incredibly helpful for much more than just renting you beach chairs and umbrellas. The lifeguards can also help you identify dangerous decisions and can be the key to a happy ending if you or someone in your family gets in trouble in the water.
4.Don’t Swim Alone
Take a buddy with you whenever you go into the ocean.
5.Keen More Than Just an Eye on Kids
Keeping your kids in your line of sight while they swim at the beach is important, but staying close enough you can get to them quickly if there’s a situation is even more important.
6.If You Get Caught in a Rip Current Swim Parallel to Shore
Often, when people get caught in rip currents, they panic and try to swim back to shore as quickly as possible—but that’s a dangerous approach, as it could tire you out as you’re pulled farther and farther out. Instead, swim parallel to shore so that you can get out of the rip current. Once you’re clear of the current, you can swim back to shore much more easily.
(posted 2/28/14)
