Planning Your Vacation to the Coast: Coastal Cautions to Avoid!

Are you like other families that carefully plan your coastal vacation? You save all year long, research where you want to stay and how you want to spend your precious days enjoying the salty air and beach. But, did you know there is one more thing you need to do? You need to become familiar with critters and conditions that could spoil your vacation so you need to plan around them. This will make the difference in whether one's time is spent as planned or in an emergency room.

Your biggest threat is the heat and sun when visiting the coast. Limiting the amount of time in direct sunlight between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., wearing a sunscreen with at least a 15 rating and using eye protection are some ways to avoid severe sunburn and heat-related illnesses.

Heat stroke is more common in the very young and very old. Everyone should be familiar with the signs, it can be life threatening and can happen at any age. Heat stroke is when someone's temperature-control system, which reduces sweat to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can climb so high that brain damage and death are possible, unless immediate cooling takes place.

Symptoms of heat stroke are hot, red and dry skin, changes in consciousness, rapid but weak pulse, and rapid and shallow breathing. If someone has these symptoms, it should be treated as an emergency, and paramedics should be called immediately. While awaiting help, the victim should be moved to a cooler place, cooled with wet sheets and a fan. Ice packs or cold packs can be placed on wrists and ankles, armpits and neck. The person should be lying down.

Heat exhaustion, which can lead to heat stroke, exhibits symptoms that might include heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, weakness and fainting. The victim should be given non-alcoholic beverages and cooled. If symptoms persist for an hour, medical attention should be sought.

Both heat exhaustion and heat stroke can usually be prevented by avoiding extended exposure to the afternoon hours, avoiding over eating and drinking plenty of fluids, not alcoholic.

Few people experience such dire reactions to heat, but those in water, in a boat or on the beach are at a greater risk for sunburn, as the sun's rays are reflected on water and sand. Experienced coastal fisherman wear ventilated long-sleeved shirts, and hats that protect the face and neck, as well as high UV absorption sunglasses.

Foot protection is important to guard against sunburn and cuts. Sunscreen should be liberally applied on feet. From garbage carelessly left on the sand or water and natural hazards of shells and other prickly parts, wearing wading shoes is smart - especially when pursuing crabs, scallops, oysters and shells.

A special caution should be taken when walking in dark water, which may suddenly dip deep, hiding jagged metal or other hazards underneath. The correct way to walk in coastal waters is to shuffle in old sneakers or crocs. That step tells stingrays and crabs you're present, and they'll have time to move out of the way. It also allows you to feel underwater barriers such as metal or wood before stepping on them.

The most-feared dangers at the beach are sea predators. Although the chances of getting bit by a shark or barracuda are about the same as being hit by lightning, it's smart to get out of the water if you see one nearby.

Those that are unfamiliar with saltwater fish should be cautious when taking one off the hook. Unlike freshwater bass that can be easily handled, many saltwater species have sharp teeth and strong jaws and my have spines that pierce skin. Specialized gloves, pliers and other tools can be used to extricate a hook, and fish should be grasped across the back, just behind the gill plate, being careful to avoid fins.

Jellyfish and the Portuguese Man of War are another matter. Jellyfish come in all sizes and can be hard to see on white sand. The Portuguese Man of War has blue bulbous floats and long stringy tentacles. Both sting and should be avoided. This is another reason to watch one's step and to closely watch children, if jellyfish are seen in the area. A mild sting should ease in a few hours, but a severe sting is reason to seek medical attention.

Do additional research and talk to the natives of the area when you arrive. Being smart will determine whether your vacation is a fun adventure or one spent in the emergency room.