Top 10 Beach Hazards

Who doesn’t enjoy basking in the sun and spending time on the beach? While sunbathing and sandy toes are synonymous with relaxation, it’s important to stay vigilant. Hidden dangers, such as drowning, skin cancer, or painful stings from marine creatures, can quickly turn a dream day into a nightmare.

Before you apply your SPF and let go of your worries, take a moment to learn about the top 10 beach hazards we’ve outlined. It could make all the difference.

10: Surviving Oh-So-Cold Water!

When the so-called "unsinkable ship" hit an iceberg and sank during its first voyage in April 1912, approximately 1,500 Titanic passengers lost their lives due to hypothermia caused by the freezing ocean.

Severe complications can arise when the body’s core temperature drops to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and unconsciousness occurs at 86 degrees. Survival time in cold water depends on factors like body size and fat content, as individuals with more body fat tend to cool down slower.

The initial symptoms of hypothermia often include shivering and teeth chattering. Other signs to watch for are pale or bluish skin, mental disorientation, slurred speech, dilated pupils, and a weak pulse accompanied by slow breathing.

If you find yourself stranded in cold water, avoid the common misconception that swimming or treading water will keep you warm. Instead, follow these steps:

To assist someone suffering from hypothermia, call for medical help immediately and follow these first-aid measures to help them regain warmth:

9: Up Your Odds as You Swim in the Sea

Statistics show that the likelihood of drowning at a beach with lifeguards is minimal, but swimming in unguarded areas significantly increases the risk.

In 1999, lifeguards in the U.S. performed over 54,000 rescues, as reported by the U.S. Lifesaving Association (USLA). During that time, only 11 drownings occurred in areas supervised by lifeguards.

How can you minimize the risk of becoming an unfortunate statistic among millions?

Bob Pingle, a paramedic from Newport Beach, Calif., advises speaking to a lifeguard nearby and asking, "What are the current conditions?" and "Where is the safest spot to swim?"

Additionally, follow these recommendations from the USLA:

8: How to Escape a Rip's Grip

Relaxing comes naturally when you're on the beach, but if a rip current drags you out to sea, your instinct might be to panic. Don’t. Lifeguards recommend going with the flow instead.

According to the U.S. Lifesaving Association, rip currents are responsible for about 80% of lifeguard rescues at U.S. beaches.

Rip currents, often mistakenly called rip tides, form when wave water converges into a fast-moving channel flowing seaward. Even the strongest swimmers can be overpowered by these currents. The key to survival is not outswimming the current but outsmarting it.

Here's what you should do: Stay afloat, call for help, and wave to attract attention. If possible, swim parallel to the shore until you escape the current, which can range from 50 feet to over 50 yards in width.

Recognizing a rip current can help you avoid getting caught. Watch for choppy or foamy water, discolored water caused by sand stirred from the ocean floor, and waves breaking farther out on either side of the rip.

7: Cuts and Bruises

The U.S. Lifesaving Association reports that around 210,000 injuries, including head injuries and broken arms and legs, occur annually due to accidents on boardwalks.

Experts advise slowing down and staying alert to avoid collisions. Wearing appropriate protective gear can also help reduce injuries in case of an accident.

For bicyclists, who suffer approximately 600,000 injuries each year, wearing a properly fitted helmet is essential.

For inline skaters, with an estimated 100,000 injuries annually, the International Inline Skating Association recommends wearing a helmet, wrist guards, elbow pads, and knee pads. This protective gear is also suitable for skateboarders and scooter riders.

The skating association emphasizes mastering basic skills like striding, stopping, and turning. Always skate in control, communicate your movements (e.g., "passing on your left"), and give priority to pedestrians.

If you’re planning a simple walk along the boardwalk, make sure to wear shoes to avoid one of the most frequent beach injuries: splinters in bare feet.

Wearing shoes on the boardwalk and beach can also help prevent other common injuries, such as burns from stepping on hot barbecue coals, cuts from broken glass left behind after parties, and stubbed toes while walking from the parking lot to the beach.

6: Save Your Neck From Crushing Waves

Protecting your neck is a crucial message that has profoundly impacted Chris McAleer, a 29-year-old former surfer who now educates children on avoiding the fate he suffered.

McAleer’s life changed five years ago when a powerful wave knocked him off his surfboard, causing him to land on his head and leaving him paralyzed.

"It felt like a switch in the back of my neck was turned off, and I couldn’t move my hands, arms, or legs," McAleer recalls, describing the day he was confined to a wheelchair for life.

Sadly, McAleer is among the many who sustain cervical-spine injuries at the beach each year.

Through "Project Wipeout," a safe-surfing initiative, McAleer shares this advice: "Always be aware of the ocean’s depth and nearby sandbars when surfing, and if you fall, protect your head at all costs."

"If you’re unprepared, it’s like being struck by a truck," cautions Eric Ethans, a lifeguard at Newport Beach in California.

In addition to swimming skills, staying near a lifeguard, and having a buddy, Project Wipeout, initiated by Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, provides these extra tips to avoid spinal-cord injuries:

If you suspect someone has a spinal injury, the U.S. Lifesaving Association advises taking these actions:

5: Boat Smart from the Start

Being on a boat without a life jacket is like being stranded in a dangerous situation without any means of survival.

In 1999, 655 boating fatalities were recorded, all linked to the absence of life jackets. This led to the North American Safe Boating Campaign’s slogan: Boat Smart From the Start: Wear Your Life Jacket.

The same rules that apply on the road also apply on the water: For instance, never drink and operate — or even ride in — a boat.

A boat operator with a blood alcohol level exceeding .10 percent (the legal limit for drunk driving in all 50 states) is approximately 10 times more likely to die in a boating accident compared to a sober operator.

"Nearly every boat rescue I’ve participated in has involved alcohol in some way — whether it’s the operator or passengers," says lifeguard Josh Van Egmond.

Here are additional safety tips from boating experts:

Organizations like the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the American Red Cross provide over 2,000 safe-boating courses. To find one nearby, call the BoatU.S. Foundation at 1-800-245-2628 or visit the BoatU.S. website.

4: Polluted Water: Enough to Make You Sick?

In an era when sea air was considered purer than mountain air, Jane Austen, in her novel Sanditon, described the seaside as a cure-all: "The combination of sea air and bathing was nearly miraculous, capable of addressing ailments of the stomach, lungs, or blood. They were anti-spasmodic, anti-pulmonary, anti-septic, anti-bilious, and anti-rheumatic."

Nearly a century after Austen wrote these words, the ocean and its once-refreshing breezes, once seen as the ultimate summer remedy, are now suffering from pollution.

Swimming in water contaminated with human and animal waste can lead to symptoms like stomachaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or flu-like conditions such as fever, sore throat, and coughing. In severely polluted waters, individuals may also be at risk of contracting hepatitis, cholera, or typhoid fever.

Swimmers are exposed to harmful pathogens primarily by ingesting contaminated water, but bacteria can also enter through the skin, eyes, or open wounds.

While some beaches display "No Swimming" or "Water Contaminated" signs during high pollution levels, don’t rely solely on these warnings. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), not all states have robust pollution monitoring and alert systems in place.

To check if your preferred beach is regularly monitored and posts swimming advisories, visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s BEACH program website.

For additional details on water quality, visit the NRDC's website.

Even if there are no warning signs at your beach destination, you can reduce your risk of illness by following this guideline from John McCord, education manager at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Calif.: Avoid swimming for 72 hours after rainfall, particularly in urban areas. McCord explains, "Rainwater washes pollutants like motor oil and chemicals from roads and gutters into storm drains, which eventually flow into the ocean."

Beyond these tips, you can contribute to reducing pollution by conserving water, maintaining septic systems, properly disposing of boat sewage and trash, managing pet waste responsibly, and using natural fertilizers like compost in your garden.

3: To Fear or Not to Fear: Jaws to Jellies

Although they lack the cinematic fame of sharks, jellyfish — translucent, tentacled beings — are far more likely to harm humans, according to John McCord, education manager at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Calif.

Often referred to as "sea jellies," these creatures vary in size from a few inches to three feet wide, with long, delicate tentacles that can deliver a painful sting.

Most stings are relatively mild, causing a burning sensation and rash that typically fades within minutes. If you feel a sting similar to a bee’s, McCord advises exiting the water calmly and slowly to avoid further stings from the same creature.

Seek help from a lifeguard, who may rinse the affected area with saltwater and apply vinegar to counteract the venom.

Certain jellyfish species, like the Australian sea wasp and the Portuguese man-o'-war found along the U.S. East Coast and elsewhere, can release venom that may cause severe reactions or, in rare cases, be fatal.

Stingrays are also venomous. Their stings, often caused by stepping on them, can result in intense pain lasting up to two days. Seek medical help from a lifeguard or doctor; applying very hot water to the affected area can provide some relief.

To avoid stings altogether, shuffle your feet when walking in sandy-bottomed waters. This prevents stepping on a stingray and allows it to swim away.

The "stingray shuffle" is effective, McCord explains, because stingrays "have no desire to sting you, just as you don’t want to be stung."

2: When the Weather Is Too Hot to Handle

Extreme heat and humidity can become dangerous when the body’s natural sweat evaporation process is overwhelmed, hindering its ability to cool down.

Remember the basics of staying cool: wear lightweight clothing and seek shade indoors or under a beach umbrella during peak sun hours.

Two essential tips for handling intense heat: Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and avoid overexertion.

If you experience dizziness or muscle cramps, take a break in the shade to avoid more severe heat-related issues:

Young children, the elderly, and those who are ill or overweight are particularly vulnerable to heat and must stay cool and hydrated.

If you’re on a fluid-restricted diet or have a medical condition, consult your doctor for personalized advice on staying safe in extreme heat.

1: Don't be a Skin Cancer Statistic!

Once celebrated as "the glorious lamp of Heav'n" in Virgil’s Aeneid and adored by sunbathers for its golden glow, the sun is now viewed differently: its rays, while tanning, can also cause potentially fatal skin cancer.

Consider this statistic: nearly half of all Americans reaching age 65 will experience at least one case of skin cancer, making it the most prevalent form of cancer in the U.S.

However, there’s hope. When detected early and treated promptly, skin cancer is nearly 100% curable.

Even better news: Simple measures like using the right sunscreen can help prevent skin cancer altogether.

These sun safety tips offer the necessary precautions to help avoid this potentially serious condition:

Don’t skip sunscreen on cloudy days, advises Brett Coldiron, M.D., a Cincinnati dermatologist and founder of the city’s Skin Cancer Center. Cloudy or cold weather doesn’t reduce UV radiation levels.

Although most skin cancers develop after age 50, sun protection should begin in childhood, as even one severe sunburn at any age can increase the risk of cancer.