A Fun Day at the Beach

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A Fun Day at the Beach
Its a hot summer day and the sun is shining. On
days like this theres no better place to be than
the beach. Lets make sure that youre prepared
to have a SAFE day while youre having fun in the
sun.
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The Sun provides us with light which is the fuel
that plants use for photosynthesis. This is the
process by which plants create their energy. We,
in turn, on plants for the food we eat and the
oxygen we breath. The sun's infrared rays keep us
warm and its visible light is what we use to see
by. The sun also generates Ultraviolet radiation
(UVR) which is also useful but, at the same time
it can be very dangerous to us. It is the cause
of most skin cancers, many cataracts and 90 of
the changes we see in our skin as we get older.
(Nobody wants to look like an old saddle when
they get older).
Sunburn! OUCH!!! Being outside on a warm, sunny
day is one of life's great pleasures, but getting
too much sun can be dangerous. Excessive sun
exposure can result in painful sunburn, but can
also lead to other serious health problems.
Sunburn is caused by overexposure to Ultraviolet
radiation, mostly UVB. During a sunburn the skin
turns red, swells and, in severe cases, blisters.
A sunburn continues to develop for 12 to 24 hours
after exposure.
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Here Are Some Tips For Safer Sunning
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• Wear Sunglasses!
• Sunglasses can help protect your eyes from sun
  damage.
• The ideal sunglasses don't have to be expensive,
  but they should block 99-100 of UVA, and UVB
  radiation.
• Large-framed or wraparound sunglasses are best
  because they can protect your eyes from all
  angles.
• Children should wear sunglasses starting as young
  as one year old.

Wear a Hat! A hat with a wide brim offers good
sun protection for your eyes, ears, face, and the
back of your neck - areas that are particularly
prone to overexposure to the sun.
Protect Other Areas with Clothing! Wear
lightweight, loose-fitting clothes as much as
possible. Most materials and colors absorb or
reflect UV rays. Tightly woven cloth is best, but
any clothing is better than none at all. Avoid
wearing wet clothes, such as a wet T-shirt,
because when clothes get wet, the sun's rays can
pass more easily through. If you can see light
through a fabric, UV rays can get through too.
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Wear Sandals! Shoes (or sandals) are a very
important piece of your beach equipment. They
protect your feet from getting sunburned, which
is very painful, and also help protect you from
things that may be hidden in the sand. Even
though most beach locations do not permit glass
containers on the beach, some people still bring
them out. And you can bet that if they bring it,
it will get broken, and if it gets broken someone
will step on it. So always wear something on your
feet to protect them.
Avoid the Midday Sun as Much as Possible The
sun's UV rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4
p.m. To the extent you can, limit your exposure
to the sun during these hours.
How about something to eat? If youre planning on
spending the day at the beach, its a good idea
to drink plenty of fluids and have some food with
you. A picnic on the beach is a great idea as
long as you keep foods from spoiling. Store food
and drinks in a cooler and use ice packs to keep
it cold.
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Always Use Sunscreen When Outside on a Sunny
Day! A sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor
(SPF) of at least 15 blocks most harmful UV
radiation. Apply sunscreen liberally and reapply
every 2 hours when working, playing, or
exercising outdoors. Even waterproof sunscreen
can come off when you towel off sweat or water.
Avoid the Midday Sun as Much as Possible! The
sun's UV rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4
p.m. To the extent you can, limit your exposure
to the sun during these hours.
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Water Safety
Im ready! Lets go Swimming!
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About The Ocean
Far out in the ocean, strong winds from weather
and storms blow on the surface of the water
creating ocean swells. These swells travel great
distances until they strike the shallow coastline
and become powerful, breaking waves. Since most
waves break at an angle to the shoreline, they
push water sideways, forming a current that moves
parallel to the beach. This is called a
sidecurrent. Breaking waves and moving water
also create an irregular sea floor with channels,
holes, and different sand formations. When
sidecurrents meet sand formations, channels or
fixed obstacles like piers or jetties, the flow
of water is diverted seaward, forming a rip
current (arrows). Rip currents are the returning
flow of water from the shore to the sea. They
can be swift and powerful, and will often carry
unwary swimmers and waders from shore. If at all
possible, check with The lifeguards before
entering water to find out what the surf
conditions are like that day.
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Rip Currents

• What is a Rip Current?
• A Rip Current is a current of water that moves
  away from the shore and out to sea. A Rip Current
  can range in width from 50 feet to 50 yards and
  can flow hundreds of yards offshore.

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Rip Currents and You
It is very important that you pay attention to
where you are drifting while you swim and play in
the ocean. You can tell you are caught in a rip
current when you notice you are moving away from
the shore and making no progress when trying to
swim in. To get to the beach, swim parallel to
shore until you are out of the seaward current,
then swim into shore. If you are having trouble,
just relax and wave for help. Remember Rip
currents pull you out to sea, not underwater.
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How to Get Out of a Rip Current
Do not Panic !

• A Rip Current is not an "undertow" - it will not
  pull you under.
• DO NOT attempt to swim against the current.
  Instead, swim parallel to the shore until you are
  clear of the Rip Current, then swim toward the
  shore.
• If you are too tired to swim, shout or wave for
  help and attempt to relax and float.

Panic is the killer.
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Now that you know how to be safe, dont forget to
HAVE FUN!