Beach season is here at last. It’s finally time for those iconic summer days of water, sand and sun.
Core memories are made at the beach, but summer fun can turn to tragedy in an instant. Whether you’re taking in the views from our own Lake Erie, or traveling to bask in salt waves, the right precautions help keep dangers at bay.
Surf Safety
According to the American Red Cross, drowning is the second-leading cause of death for children ages 1-4, and only motor vehicle accidents cause more injury to children ages 1-14.
“It is all about prevention,” says Dr. Deanna Barry of Barry Pediatrics in Bath. When it comes to beach safety, she takes a holistic approach. “What’s important to recognize is that there is no one, single thing that prevents drowning, it’s multiple layers of protection.”
Swimming lessons are a necessity, and most pediatricians agree that children who are physically and developmentally ready should begin as early as age 1.
Barry strongly recommends parents familiarize themselves with CPR which she calls, “the single most effective first aid skill that anyone could have.” Courses are available across Northeast Ohio, but if cost or accessibility are issues, she points to free online resources through the American AED CPR Association.
A less obvious risk—knowing who exactly is watching children at any given moment. Unfortunately, more adults in a group can lead to a false sense of security.
“It’s the case of, if everybody is watching, nobody is watching,” Barry says. “When there are multiple adults around, it’s easy to assume someone else is keeping tabs on the kids and it is shocking how quickly kids can find themselves in a dangerous situation.”
Proactive planning goes a long way. “Consider taking turns in social situations when there are multiple adults watching a group of kids so one person is in a designated role,” she adds. “You can even assign 15-minute shifts so there is an accountable and responsible adult supervising the children.”
Parents should also familiarize themselves with water conditions including riptides, currents, waves, temperature and even local marine life. Lifeguards can help, but they are not babysitters.
With her own family, Barry relies on clear communication. “I find it to be most helpful when I talk in advance with my kids so they know what to expect and what will be asked of them when we arrive,” she says. “Try to describe all of the exciting things they will get to do rather than using negative language to tell them that they can’t do this and they can’t do that. Summarize expectations when you first arrive, [such as] no one is getting in the water unless there’s adult supervision, stay with a buddy, etc.”
Sand Safety
Who doesn’t look forward to feeling sand between your toes, even if you’ll be finding it everywhere for months to come? But nature’s pedicure also has some hidden dangers.
First and foremost, beware of the heat. Sand does not absorb as much energy from the sun as water or air, and therefore it can be up to 30 degrees hotter than the air. Meaning, on a 90 degree day sand temps can soar to 120, which can translate into serious burns, especially for young children or those with sensitive feet.
Consider setting up your beach camp near the water where sand tends to be cooler. If your location allows, create your own shade with umbrellas or pop-up tents. You can also lower surface temperatures by regularly spraying down your area with water or breaking out shovels and buckets to mix the hot, dry surface with the cooler, damp layer below.
The best way to protect feet from serious burns is to invest in swim shoes for the whole family, which can also shield skin from broken glass, plastic or even sharp shells. Go a step further and use kids’ shovels and buckets to collect harmful objects and litter from the sand around you before you start to play. This is a great way to engage kids with the importance of pitching in and cleaning up after themselves to keep everyone safer.
Once the sand is free of hazards, most turn to another beloved tradition—burying each other, and good old-fashioned digging.
However, accidents from digging in the sand are relatively rare but when they do happen, they are catastrophic and quick. The New England Journal of Medicine conducted a study of beachgoers becoming trapped in a hole they dug for fun. According to the study, 60% of people trapped died. Survivors were helped because there was someone watching them nearby, though many required CPR or other medical intervention.
The causes of a collapse can vary — unstable sand, jumping, tunneling —but once someone is buried it’s virtually impossible for them to free themselves, or to see them from the surface. Furthermore, the risk applies to all ages, from toddlers to adults.
First and foremost, always keep heads above the sand. A good rule of thumb is to never dig deeper than your knees. Avoid digging on sand dunes, slopes, or other more unstable areas. Very dry sand collapses more easily with little impact. Tunnels are particularly dangerous. Kids may love burrowing from hole to hole, however they consistently crumble, burying a child in an instant.
“It’s just as important to keep a watchful eye on kids in the sand as it is in the water,” Barry says. “Humans tend to think they are exempt from catastrophe, that these things don’t apply to them. Kids in this age group are curious, impulsive, fast and they have no sense of danger.”
Be sure to fill even small holes in before leaving the beach. Holes left behind serve as a trap for fellow beachgoers and can lead to very serious injury, or in some cases even deaths. It’s an easy gesture to make sure others can make their own golden summer memories on the water.
