| Hello Everyone,
It's that time of the year again! Dust off your beach gear and get ready to head to the beach! In this newsletter I will go over a few tips to keep you safe at the beach.
With much Luv,
Kristin Epley Gardner
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| Visibility | |
"Oh mom, do I really have to wear this?"  Visibility is key when at the beach. Consider putting your child in a brightly colored rash guard so that you and the lifeguard can spot your child from a distance.
Colors that stand out are red, yellow, orange, hot pink. Colors that will blend into the background are tan, white, black, blue.
Also, if you plan on putting your child into a wetsuit, put abrightly colored rash guard over the wet suit to maintain visibility.
Visibility for you and your children should also include your umbrella or shade tent. Choose a brightly colored umbrella so that if your child is playing in or at the water's edge, they can easily spot what I like to call "Shade base."
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| Get to know the Conditions | |
Before you leave the house to go and play in the sun and/or head for the beach, take a moment to check out the conditions of the day. Do this right before or right after you put on that base layer of sunblock on the kids and yourself.
Conditions to know include weather report, storm warnings, important beach information. surf report, water quality, and water temperature. Weather reports including warnings  http://www.noaa.gov Beach report card http://brc.healthebay.org Water quality http://ph.lacounty.gov Surf report http://www.surfline.com http://www.swellinfo.com http://magicseaweed.com Water temperature http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/spac_tmap.html | |
Meet your Lifeguard
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 Plan on setting up your "shade base" close to the lifeguard tower. After you get your base set up, take a walk over to the lifeguard with your children.
Let your children know who the lifeguard is and that he/she is at the beach to keep you safe.
Ask the lifeguard before you go into the water about the conditions up on the board and anything you should know about the water that day (such as if there are any rip currents, sand bars, strong undertows, the direction of the current, etc).
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Sun Protection
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During the summer months it seems most people enjoy being outside in the sun between 10am-4pm, which is actually the suggested time frame to stay out of the sun.
Pre-sunscreen your children head to toe  15-minutes prior to leaving the house apply sunscreen all over. I suggest doing it in the buff to get good coverage and use lotion verses a spray. Make sure to reapply sunscreen at least every two hours when out and about. Note: See next section for sunscreen specifics.
Pick sun protective clothing.
 Skin-care experts believe clothing shields skin more effectively from UV light than sunscreen. Two key reasons for this are: 1) many of us often apply sunscreen lotions too thinly, giving our skin less protection than the sunscreen's available SPF rating, and 2) we neglect to reapply it.
Wear a hat
 Wear a hat that preferably has a large brim or bill, so you get some shade for your eyes. Also, a hat with sides and a back flap to protect the neck and ears along with a bill is perfect for really sun sensitive people.
Wear sunglasses
Make sure they protect from UV light. If at the beach or near water, polarized glasses will cut down on glare, which will make keeping your little one in your sights easier
Bring the Shade with you
 A large umbrella or tent is great for your "Shade Base." It is important to incorporate breaks into your day from direct sun exposure, particularly around lunch time, when the sun is highest in the sky.
Drink plenty of water
 Make sure that you bring an adequate amount of water, so that you and your children can make it a point to hydrate often. All your fun in the sun can cause dehydration and/or lead to heat stroke.
FDA information on Sun Safety
EPA Sun Wise resources
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Sunscreen
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Thank you to everyone who emailed me regarding sunscreen.
 The most common sunscreens mentioned were ones that contained a high amount zinc oxide. Most of you mentioned sticks are great and to stay away from spray sun blocks because they are harmful if inhaled.
Your top durability brands
Badger, Blue Lizard, Water Babies
Your top sensitive skin brands
Neutrogena and California BabyIf you don't already know about the Environmental Working Group. Here are two articles about sun and sunscreen: http://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2009/08/sunscreen-series-does-sunscreen-use-prevent-skin-cancer
To see the sunscreens they recommend or the grade that your personal sunscreen received click here:
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Be a Role Model
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By now your kids are in swimming lessons and on their way to becoming water safe. As a parent it is imperative to be a safe swimmer as well. It is never too late to learn how to swim.
Along with teaching children, I do teach adults how to swim. While your child is in daycare or with adult supervision (like a play date), take the opportunity to brush up on your water skills. Get over your own fear of the water and take the plunge with your children towards safety. Once you and your children are water safe, reward your joint efforts by taking a trip to Lego Land or Six Flags, rent a canoe or kayak. Make the most of your new found love of the water. | |
