Beach Safety Tips

Going to the beach with the family can be a lot of fun. Here are some beach safety tips to keep your family and children from dangers.

Anne Ebeling: Hi moms and dads it's summer time and for a lot of people that means packing up their kids and taking them to the beach. But before you bring your little ones to the sea shore there are a few things you have to keep in mind to keep them safe. I am here with Victoria McDougal from the American Red Cross, Hi Victoria. Victoria McDougal: Hello. Anne Ebeling: And we are talking beach safety. First of all what are the biggest dangers parents face when they bring their kids to the beach? Victoria McDougal: Well obviously I think that there are many-many dangers that parents face all summer long. A sun burn can be a potential danger; you know stepping on an object on the beach front and hurting your foot, jelly fish. There are multiple dangers that come with summer fun. But for me and what we are going to talk little bit about today is water safety because ultimately we want to keep our family safe. So the Red Cross has some great tips for the 2009 summer season and if you really take them to heart and follow them you'll be safe this summer. Female Speaker: First learn how to swim and swim well. Victoria McDougal: This is the first line of defense for summer safety, and the Red Cross can provide all kind of classes and you can really get educated, really feel secure this summer, and also never swim alone and that also goes for water sports. start going surfing, you out there how with somebody, swim with someone, make sure that people know where you are. Female Speaker: The next just what the Red Cross calls "Reach Supervision". Victoria McDougal: It's very simple. It just means making sure that your one arm's length away, and those you are and that will really ensure that they are safe, whether they are swimming in the ocean in swimming pool. Female Speaker: And to have the proper gear. Victoria McDougal: Those which are not strong swimmers or they are relying on inflatable toys or floating devices, you know these individuals really need to make sure that they have a personal floatation device. You know water safety jackets, this is a no brainier and every body really should be encouraged to have there own water safety jacket if they are in and around the water. Female Speaker: Swim in supervised area. Victoria McDougal: And also follow the signs and this is so simple but really, we sometimes we ignore the signs and if it says no diving, don't question it, don't argue you don't know what's lurking underneath that water. Female Speaker: Watch out for the dangerous too's. Victoria McDougal: Too much sun, too cold, too little hydration, too far from safety; all of these things really are the indicators that trouble is coming. It's very important that you take that moment and take a step back and say how are my kids feeling? Do they really need a now and when the too's just get too big, pull back so that everyone can stay safe? It's just now worth it to push the envelope so far that then, you find yourself dealing with an emergency situation. Female Speaker: Pack a safety bag for the beach. Victoria McDougal: In my safety bag, I have plenty of sunscreen, plenty of water, I also have some sand shoes for my 5 year old daughter because there are all kinds of things on the beach that really could cut your feet and the sunscreen obviously is going to help prevent you know any kind of sun burn and you've got your first aid kit hopefully a little mini one, the American Red Cross makes that very-very nice little kit for 7 dollars. Female Speaker: Be mindful of water and weather conditions. Victoria McDougal: As you know the weather can change on a dime so pay attention and stop swimming if there is any sign of bad weather, if there is any even crack of lightening, get to safe ground it's just not worth it to push it. Female Speaker: And last but not least. Victoria McDougal: The most important tip is, really learn first aid an infant child an adult CPR. You know these life saving skills are absolutely imperative for every parent to have tucked right under their arm in case of an emergency. Female Speaker: And there are plenty of parents out there already enjoying the beach with their little one. We talk to some real moms to find out how they keep their kids safe at the sea shore. Female Speaker 2: Sunscreen, number one you know they will have some sunglasses as you can see and bathing suits diving, yes we wear bathing suits, lots of water. Anne Ebeling: What special precaution do you guys take to you know ensure that you all have a good time and everybody stays safe. Female Speaker 3: I think it's really fine; we need to do that every couple of hours, spend, -- kind of take a break under the umbrella. Female Speaker 2: Wear your flip flops -- you know usually during the summer because the sun gets really-really hot. So I mean you can feel the bottom of your feet burning and so you have to make sure that they wear those shoes. Anne Ebeling: How can you make sure they don't get sand in their eyes or anything like that and what if that happens? Female Speaker 2: They are going to get sand in their eyes, their ears, their mouth their everywhere and I don't think there is much you can do about that. Amy Newman: My name is Amy Newman and I have 3 children 5, 4 and 2 years old. When I come to the beach I definitely -- my number one concern is keeping the kids in my sight, so I can always see where they are and also sunscreen. I want to make sure that they are not getting burn and then when they are swimming in the water making sure that they are with me. They all know how to swim, two of them with floatees, one of them without. But I make sure that if the ones with floatees are going in that they are with me, that I am holding their hand or -- because the ocean can be you know rough. Female Speaker: So with all those great tips we hope you are Red Cross and real mom ready for some fun in the sun.