Here are our swimming safety tips and water safety tips for children to consider for your beach vacation or just relaxing by the pool at home.
Swimming safety tips
- Bring protection for your eyes and skin (good sunglasses & high UV sun block) Apply 30 minutes prior to swimming and re-apply often.
- Wear waterproof shoes to protect your feet from hot sand, broken glass, and coral
- Stay out of the sun from 11:00-3:00 each day to avoid over-exposure
- Too much alcohol and sun are a bad combination...don't over indulge
- Red flags mean no swimming areas and green flags mark swimming areas
- Don't swim alone ... or if you do make sure you know your limitations
- Rip tides can overpower the most powerful swimmer. If you encounter a rip tide swim parallel to the shoreline until you no longer feel the pull of the current. Then, and only then swim toward the beach. Remain calm and remember that salt water provides good buoyancy
- Get out of the water if you hear thunder. Lightning can travel sideways for miles
- Jellyfish stings - Do not rinse with fresh water, use salt water. If tentacles are present remove with tweezers. Apply vinegar or isopropyl alcohol. Put baking soda, shaving cream, or mud on affected area. Limit movement to localize venom. Watch for infection. Mouth and eye stings should receive medical treatment immediately. Eye stings should be irrigated with fresh water.
- Don't swim near an estuary (river mouth emptying into the sea) or in extremely murky water
- Bring a cell phone and make sure it works where you swim. 911 is the emergency number in Costa Rica.
Water safety tips for children
- Teach them to swim like fish and be comfortable in the water
- and then never leave them alone for a second
- Don't allow gum chewing, drinking, or intake of food around the water
- Bring a shirt and hat to protect their sensitive skin
- Find a tide pool (protected area) for the kids to soak in
- Be aware of movement of sand under foot when jumping waves with the kids. Rip tides are stronger than the most powerful swimmer. Trying to help a child when caught in a rip is even worse. (Don't go out to far!)
- Bring plenty of bottled water and food. Require frequent rest periods for hydration and to reapply sun block
- Learning CPR can't hurt!
Our swimming safety tips and water safety tips for children are on the same page because they relate to each other. Have a fun and rewarding beach vacation with your family!
