Welcome to the beach

Sun. Sand. Ocean. Welcome to the beach. Once you get past the hot sand and salt water, it’s a place to build sandcastles, catch some rays and play it safe. Swim in a lifeguard area, heed their warning and the color-coded flags. And most important swim to your fitness level. (Red Cross). Rip currents are most responsible for lifeguard rescues.  A rip current is “a relatively strong, narrow current flowing outward from the beach through the surf zone and presenting a hazard to swimmers.” (Oxford Languages). If you end up in rip current remain calm and swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current. To avoid getting to this point stay at least 100 feet from piers and jetties. And don’t be afraid to ask a lifeguard where you should swim that is safest.

Before you have to worry about beach safety, you need to pack your bag. Here are some essentials:

1.    Beach towel or blanket

2.   Sunscreen and hydrating lip balm

3.   Hat and sunglasses

4.   Umbrella

5.    Water (HGTV.com)

Don’t forget to pack snacks, drinks and food. “Is it just us, or does food eaten at the beach just taste so much better? It's easy to see how the salt, sand, and sun from a day at the beach can make you work up quite the appetite. But you shouldn't have to compromise on what you bring along in the cooler or lose your prime spot to head to the snack bar.”  —McKenzie Filson, Delish

Some ideas:

1. Hard-boiled eggs/deviled eggs

2.   Chips and salsa and/or hummus and pita chips

3.   Crudite and dip

4.   Finger sandwiches— ham and cheese, hummus and cucumber, mozzarella and tomato, etc.

5.    Pasta salad

6.   Fruit salad or fruit skewers

7.    Brownies

8.   Iced tea

So, print this out and review it before your next trip to the beach. Just remember to have fun in the sun.