In a few weeks we will be lucky enough to be dipping our toes into the hopefully-not-too-chilly waters of the Adriatic and Aegean seas. It has to be said, I do love a beautiful beach. Blue skies, warm sunshine, hot sand and the soft sea breeze are all simple pleasures that I love to sit and enjoy as I soak it all in. It’s safe to say too, that the children are definitely beach babies, but it is important to remember that as well as being a place of great fun, the beach also poses dangers too.
As dealchecker shared the most beautiful beaches in Europe (which we have now added to our ever-growing list of places we want to visit), and we prepare for our travels once again, we thought we’d brush up on our beach safety tips. Fancy a reminder? Here you go:
Ensure you check out the beach as soon as you arrive before you allow your children to explore for themselves. Are there any potential dangers that you can see?
Keep children nearby and always keep watch on where they are and what they are doing. Ensure you can get to them quickly should they need you, and never, ever leave young children unattended.
Take a paddle first. Sheer drops in the sea can occur quite unexpectedly so make sure the water is shallow enough for your children to paddle in before allowing them to enter the water.
If booking your holiday through a travel agent ask them whether the local beaches are safe and whether or not lifeguards are present.
Avoid rough waters and learn how to identify a rip tide. Remember, still waters do not necessarily mean that the sea is safe.
Keep a lookout for any water sports taking place close-by. Make sure that they are kept within zoned areas away from where your family will be swimming.
Inflatables are a lot of fun but they also pose a real danger, carrying people out to sea extremely quickly.
Keep topping up sun protection. Use a waterproof sun lotion but do keep topping up every couple of hours, especially if you are dipping in and out of the water.
Keep children under six months old out of direct sunlight and keep them well protected.
Stay hydrated. All that sun and fun can make you thirsty so make sure you all drink water regularly.
Now we’ve reminded ourselves on the best ways to stay safe by the sea, let’s take a look at some of the most beautiful beaches we can enjoy:
Do you have any tips to share? We’d love to hear them.
