Family beach vacations are a popular choice for making lasting memories, but ensuring your family stays healthy and safe is just as important.

Here are some tips to help you achieve both fun and safety during your beach getaway!

Protect Your Family’s Skin from Sunburn

Sunburns are more than just painful—they can cause long-term harm like skin cancer, premature wrinkles, and brown spots. To prevent sunburn, the best option for your family is sunscreen. Whether you’re a parent or a child, sunscreen is essential for everyone, and here's how to choose the best one for your family.

How to Choose Sunscreen for Your Family

Sunscreens are often marketed based on age group, but everyone needs a sunscreen with three key features:

1. Broad-spectrum coverage (protects against UVA and UVB rays).

2. SPF 30 or higher.

3. Water-resistant formula.

How to Apply Sunscreen

1. Apply 15 minutes before sun exposure (even with mineral sunscreen).

2. Use enough sunscreen to cover the body fully—about a shot-glass amount for adults and half that for kids.

3. Rub it in thoroughly and ensure all exposed areas are covered.

4. Reapply every 2 hours, or immediately after swimming or sweating.

5. For kids with thin hair, protect their scalp with sunscreen or a hat.

Always Supervise Children Around Water

While you keep an eye on young children near water, it’s important to know that teenage boys are particularly at risk for drowning—10 times more likely than girls. Factors such as overconfidence and risk-taking behavior contribute to this.

Additional Swim Safety Tips:

1. Life jackets are essential, but don’t let them create a false sense of security. Always supervise closely, even when kids are wearing flotation devices.

2. Half of all drownings happen when a pool is crowded, and 23% occur during family gatherings near water.

3. Constant mature people supervision is crucial, even when a child is in a life jacket or a lifeguard is on duty.

Understand the Beach’s Safety Guidelines

Before you hit the sand, familiarize yourself with local beach safety practices. Most public beaches use a flag warning system to signal the safety of water conditions.

Common Beach Flags:

1. Yellow: Moderate surf and currents. Weak swimmers should stay out of the water.

2. Red: Rough conditions or potential shark sightings. Do not enter the water.

3. Double Red: The water is closed to the public. Stay out.

4. Purple: Presence of dangerous marine life (e.g., jellyfish or stingrays).

Rip Currents: Stay Safe in the Ocean

Swimming in the ocean can be a fun experience, but it also comes with risks—especially when it comes to rip currents. These powerful, fast-moving channels of water can pull even experienced swimmers far from the shore in an instant. Recognizing the signs of a rip current and knowing how to react can make all the difference in keeping your family safe.

How to Spot Rip Currents:

Debris floating away from the shore

Churning of the ocean floor creating a distinctive, disturbed appearance

Calm water without waves, indicating water is being pulled away from the shore

Lightning Safety: Protect Your Family

While the beach is a great place to enjoy the sun, it’s important to know that water and lightning do not mix. Being near the ocean or even in a beach tent offers no protection from lightning strikes, which can be deadly.

Lightning Safety Tips:

1. Even if a storm seems far off, check the radar. Thunderstorms can move quickly and still pose a danger even if they appear distant.

2. Experts recommend leaving the beach when a storm is within 10 miles of your location. However, lightning can strike from up to 20 miles away.

3. If you hear thunder, take cover. It’s better to be safe inside until you’re sure the storm has passed.