For immediate release: July 1, 2008 (08-108)
Contacts:
Jessica Archer, BEACH Program
Coordinator 360-236-3060
Gordon MacCracken,
Communications Office 360-236-4072
Shore up your safety plans before you head to the beach for
summer fun
Hints will help you stay safe and sound on the Sound, peaceful at the
Pacific
OLYMPIA ¾ The warmth of the sun has finally
reached Washington, sending people toward the state’s beaches to catch a wave
all summer long.
But don’t go near the water until you’re ready to play it safe on the sand.
The Washington State Department of Health offers these tips to help you avoid
harm on the state’s beautiful saltwater beaches:
Surf the Web before you surf the beach. Check Washington’s
BEACH
Program Web site (http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/WaterRec/beach/default.htm)
to see if a swimming advisory has been posted because of high bacteria
levels. If an advisory has been issued for the beach you plan to visit,
choose another beach or activity.
Don’t swim when conditions could make you sick. Stay out of the
water for 48 hours after it rains, especially if it’s been dry for awhile.
Rain sends stormwater runoff to beaches, carrying toxins, along with waste
from pets and leaking septic systems.
Don’t swim in urban creeks. Creeks may seem safe, but they carry
stormwater runoff, usually have high bacteria levels, and often contain
toxins. Teach children to avoid them.
Use good hygiene. Bacteria from people can spread disease at
beaches. Wash your hands with soap or sanitizer after using the restroom.
Help children do the same. Don’t swallow beach water. People who are sick or
who have diarrhea should leave the water immediately. Take children for
frequent restroom breaks. Change diapers away from the water’s edge. Never
bury them in the sand — small children or animals may dig them up.
Wear sunscreen. Washington has one of the nation’s highest skin
cancer rates. Reduce your risk with a few simple habits: Use sunscreen with
an SPF of 15 or higher, apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors,
and reapply it every hour or two. Keep infants out of direct sunlight. Avoid
the sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Know your
risks (www.skincancer.org).
Prevent drowning. Most people who drown know how to swim but aren’t
wearing life jackets. Many victims are 14 or younger.
Wear a life jacket
(www.doh.wa.gov/Topics/WaterSafety.htm) on watercraft even if you know how
to swim, designate a responsible adult to watch young children, and swim
with a buddy. Learn CPR. Watch for dangerous waves and rip currents; don’t
swim at beaches such as Ocean Shores and Long Beach where they’re common. In
a rip current, swim parallel to shore; once free of the current, swim toward
shore.
Be careful when harvesting shellfish. Collecting and eating
shellfish from Washington beaches is a popular pastime, but
make sure you’re safe
(ww4.doh.wa.gov/gis/mogifs/biotoxin.htm) before eating your catch. Serious
disease, and even death, can result from contaminated shellfish. Always "Know
Before You Dig" (www.doh.wa.gov/shellfishsafety.htm).
Follow these hints, and you’ll have fun, fun, fun until you put the swimsuit
away.
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