Florida Summer Safety Tips
Thousands flock to the state of Florida for their summer vacation, and who can blame them? From beaches to amusement parks, Florida has everything to offer. But as much fun as you can have in Florida, if you don’t properly protect yourself against the Florida summer heat, you could be in for a nasty surprise. Avoid this by following our Florida summer safety tips:
Stay hydrated
Needless to say, Florida summers can get hot, with averages in the 80s and 90s during summer’s peak. As a result, you can get dehydrated pretty quickly. Waiting until your feeling thirsty won’t be enough, as that’s actually a sign of mild dehydration. Instead, you should be drinking regularly, even when you aren’t thirsty, in order to stay hydrated. And if you’re planning on any heavy physical exertion, drink about 16-20 ounces of water an hour before.
Protect against bugs
Unfortunately, mosquitoes are a fact of life in Florida. They not only leave irritating bug bites, but they also carry many diseases like Lyme disease or Zika. So, put on some bug spray before you leave the house, especially at night.
Avoid hot cars
Cars can heat up quickly, so don’t leave your children or your pets inside, not even for a couple of minutes. It only takes ten minutes for a car to increase 20 degrees in temperature, so make the safe choice and take your children and animals outside with you when you leave the car.
Wear plenty of sunscreen
There’s plenty of sun in Florida, but as tempting as it is to try for a new tan, you need to be careful about how much sun your skin is exposed to. Too much sunlight can not only burn your skin, but lead to serious health consequences down the line. So be sure to lather up on the sunscreen, making sure it’s waterproof if you’re heading to the beach or pool.
Practice beach safety
Speaking of which, Florida has many wonderful beaches, but you should be on the lookout for several things, from weather to dangerous marine life. A good way to protect yourself and your family is to know what each beach flag means. For example, purple is a sign of dangerous marine life (usually jellyfish), while a single red flag is a sign of high water hazards such as high surf and/or strong currents. Also be sure to keep an eye on the weather, especially thunderstorms which are common during the afternoon. If you hear thunder, stay away from the beach for at least 30 minutes.
Now that you’ve read up on these safety tips, it’s time to plan out your vacation. While a trip to Disney World is always fun, why not spend some time in Madeira Beach as well? Here at Woody’s Watersports, we offer jet ski rentals and tiki tours that are bound to make your next Florida summer vacation a memorable one. Give us a call today at 727-391-0200 to learn more!