Alabama
Florida
Virginia
Other Information:
Are you lost?
Bikini Beach Beach Survival Guide
If you heading to the beach for the first time or want make your day at the beach, and day after, more enjoyable, I have some tips and tricks I've picked up along the way:
Stay save in the sun. Before your spread out the beach blanket and spread on the suntan lotion, there are a few things you might want to know about summertime skin. A little colors probably OK, but you don't want to burn!
What you will find our this page:
Jellyfish
Are you likely to burn
Using
Sun block
Sunburn Relief
Hottest Sun
Medications and sun
Kid Corner
Other First Aid tips
What to do about jellyfish
While the Jellyfish looks not only beautiful but harmless, its tentacles are an entirely different story. The tentacles are long, spindly appendages that hang from the underside of the jellyfish. When they come in contact with the skin the result is a red welt and severe pain. Gently wash the area with a mild soap and water, then apply liberal amounts of meat tenderizer (MSG, Accent) to the still wet area. Benadryl will help lesson the reaction. If the reaction worsens see a physician
Are some people more likely to sunburn?
Yes, the most susceptible are people who are fair skinned, tan poorly, have red or blonde har or are blue-eyed.
Everyone should use sun block!
There is evidence that sun blocks help prevent skin cancer, sunburn and retard the aging affects of the sun. Get a sun block with he highest number if you are one of those most likely to burn, preferably 15 or greater. If you are less likely to burn then use a sun block that has a lower number. It takes at least one ounce of sun block (the amount that would fit into one of those coffee scoops) to cover your effectively from head to toe.
Sun blocks should be applied at least once and hour while you're in the sun.. more often if you are perspiring or swimming. Remember that even those sun blocks that claim to be waterproof, wash off or thin out and need to be re-applied. Apply the sun block 15 to 30 minutes before going out in the sun. After you have been out in the sun for a while, say about 1 hour, you should seek a place in the shade to let your skin neutralize. During this time, 10 minutes should be sufficient, it is wise to re-apply sun block. Even if you already have a tan, you can still burn if you don't keep using sun block. Always take it along and always use it.
Where should & shouldn't I use a sun block?
Use sun block with a higher protection factor on those areas that need extra protection. The tip of the nose, ears, collarbone, top of the feet and shoulders. Don't be tempted to sue sun block on the lips - most of them contain alcohol, which can be drying. Use only those products designed for the lips. Keep all sun block and sun medications away from your eyes.
When is the sun the hottest?
The sun is the most damaging between 11am and 3pm. also, remember to take care of your eyes and head in the sun. Wear a good pair of sunglasses to ward off the sun from your eyes and wear some kind of protection on your head - the looser the covering the better.
Medication and the sun
Be aware of certain medications you are taking. Some can make you more sensitive to the sun. Some examples are: Tetracycline, diuretics, and major tranquilizers such as thorazine or stelazine. They have the potential to cause bad burn from an amount of the sun that would not ordinarily be harmful because they have substances that cause the skin to absorb more of the sun's radiation.
Sunburn Relief
What should you do if you have a bad sunburn? My first answer is avoid it! It's ruined many a vacation for a member in my family. So if you get one, take a cool bath, not ice cold, no bath salts, oil or bubble bath. Take it easy on your skin, no scrubbing, no shaving. use a soft towel and pat the skin dry. Try a sunburn remedy or first-aid spray, one with lidocaine or benzocaine (quick pain relief.) use a light moisturizer and a dusting of powder (eases chafing.) STAY OUT OF THE SUN! If the sunburn is severe or if you blister, feel faint or nauseous, see a doctor immediately!
| Symptoms | Problem | Relief |
| Deep pink; heat and burning on skin | Mild sunburn | Cool compresses of equal parts milk and water |
| Red, visible strap lines, itching, stinging | Moderate sunburn | Aspirin every four hours, over the counter steroid creams such as Cortaid |
| Bright red; blisters, fever, chills, nausea | Sever sunburn | See a doctor, also take aspirin and cool bath with a 1/2 cup cooked oatmeal added |
Kids Corner - Help for Kids
Most parents don't realize that 80 percent of skin damage occurs in the first 20 years of your life. So it's up to us parents to start our kids on a lifetime of protective skin care.
Your Child in the Sun
Babies under a year old should be kept out of the sun. Use light weigh, light-colored clothing, and always cover the head with a hat.
Use a sunscreen with a protection factor of 15 for the best results. Apply liberally and often. Don't use sun block with a protection factor of more than 4 on babies under 6 months. There is a possibility that the skin may absorb the chemical and the child's system may not be able to eliminate it.
Use Extra caution around reflective surfaces
Control of vomiting
Be sure to give plenty of fluid. Small amounts sipped from a a spoon are best. Do not give milk! Do not give solid foods! Clear liquids stay down best. Try water, ice chips, flat ginger ale, diluted Gatorade or Popsicles.
Food that can choke a child
The following 10 foods have most often caused fatal choking g in children under five:
First Aid Tips
| Symptom | Treatment |
| SUNBURN | |
| Red, painful, swollen skin, blisters if severe, chills and fever | Apply cold compresses or bathe in cool water, give acetaminophen for pain, call Dr. if sever or if fever's and ill, give fluids |
| INSECT BITES & STINGS | |
| Pain, itching, swelling, redness, if allergic, difficulty breathing, swallowing | Scrape the stinger with your fingernail, don't squeeze, wash with soap/water, apply cold compress, then calamine lotion, get help immediately if allergic |
| CUTS AND BRUISES | |
| Cuts: injuries to skin with bleeding and pain. Bruises: redness on impact then black and blue. | Cuts: stop bleeding with direct pressure, clean with soap/water, cover with sterile bandage. Bruises: apply cold packs, elevate limp |
| MINOR BURNS | |
| Redness, pain and swelling. Moist oozing blistered skin appearing within several hours | Remove clothing if not stuck, flush in cold water or apply cold cloths, don't use butter/ointment, cover burns with sterile bandage |
| EARACHE | |
| Pain, discharge form ear, possible fever, hearing loss. In baby: pulling ear | See Dr. immediately for diagnosis, report fever and / or discharge, use prescribed medication as directed, keep ear dry during bathing |
| FEVER | |
| Body temperature of 100 F measured orally or 101 F measure rectally | Increase fluid intake, sponge with warm water and give acetaminophen, call a Dr. if temp over 102 F (orally) or persists |
| FRACTURE & DISLOCATIONS | |
| Severe pain, swelling or bruising, loss of motion, protruding bone | Don't move if unconscious or if back/neck injuries suspected. Treat breathing, bleeding, shock first. Immobilize injury before moving |
| DROWNING | |
| Unconsciousness, not breathing, possibly no heartbeat, cold exposure, shock | If not breathing begin mouth to mouth, call for help, if no pulse, begin CPR if trained, elevate feet, keep warm |
| OBJECT IN EYE | |
| Watery, irritated, painful eye, reluctance to open eye, foreign object visible | Let eye tear, don't rub, if loose object may dislodge itself or dab gently with a clean cloth, if embedded cover eye and get help |
Return to Bikini-Beaches Home Page