How You Can Stay Safe at the Bradenton Beaches
With our state’s endless sunshine and beautiful beaches, it’s rare that you can have anything but a great day while vacationing here in Bradenton. Among collecting shark teeth to shelling and of course enjoying time in the water or on a boat, staying safe at Bradenton beaches is our top priority. Resource yourself and your loved ones with these tips for staying safe while on your vacation.
Protect yourself from the sun.
When you’re out enjoying the Bradenton beaches, this of course means you’re spending a lot of time in the sun. Make sure to regularly apply sunscreen every two hours. And if you’re taking a dip in the water, make sure to reapply it right away in order to protect your skin. If you’re going to be spending an extended time on the beach, particularly at midday when the sun is strongest, bring an umbrella, hat and sunglasses so that you can take a break from direct sun exposure.
Stay hydrated.
Staying hydrated with plenty of water is key to staying safe during your beach day. While you are surely well aware of this safety tip, it never hurts to be reminded because it is so vital when spending a full day in the sun. In addition, make sure to avoid alcoholic beverages.
Pay attention to the flags.
When you arrive at one of our Bradenton beaches, you’ll notice there will be raised flags to signal the current beach conditions. Flags can be a sign of a number of water conditions including harmful marine life (such as jellyfish) to high hazard and strong current conditions. Assess the flags before you make way to your spot to ensure the water’s safe for you and your little ones.
Be wary of rip currents.
Speaking of strong currents, rip currents are channels of water that can quickly pull you away from the shore. Even though a red flag should be raised to signal for rip currents, you can identify them when you see a change in the water color, rough channel conditions or breaks occurring in the waves. If you do find yourself in a rip current, make sure that you remain calm and swim with the current’s direction parallel to the shore, not against the current as this will just pull you out further.
Pay attention to poor weather.
Before you venture to the Bradenton beaches, check the weather report so that you can be aware of any storms or other severe weather. If you’re expecting stormy weather, it might be best to reschedule your beach day. If you find yourself already at the beach, and you hear thunder, immediately exit the water and vacate the beach while you wait out the storm by retreating indoors.