Are You Beach-Ready? Get Essential Summer Safety Tips

It may not be in the forefront of your mind, but glass, debris and jellyfish are beach hazards that you can easily prepare for.
 
First, be sure that everyone has a pair of beach shoes. These may also prevent slipping on rocks or getting cut by jagged formations underwater. Additionally, before setting up your towels and blankets, survey the area, looking for anything might pose a danger.
 
If someone gets stung by a jellyfish, first asses the severity of the sting. If the person appears to be having a severe or systemic reaction, seek immediate emergency help. Most jellyfish stings can be treated by home remedies. First, remove any pieces of tentacle still on the skin by washing with seawater and scraping gently with a credit card or similar hard surface (not your hands or a towel, which can cause the discharge of more venom). Deactivate most stingers by generously rinsing with vinegar for at least 30 seconds. Sea nettles and Portuguese man-of-war stingers may be deactivated using a paste of baking soda and seawater. For relief of pain or irritation after the sting is treated, try soaking in tolerably hot water for 20 minutes. Calamine lotion or lidocaine ointment may relieve some itching and pain.

If you're going to a crowded area, it may be a good idea to devise an emergency plan in case someone gets lost. Establishing a meeting space and giving the kids a cell phone may help ensure everyone returns home safely.