How to plan for a fun and safe seaside outing

Jellyfish and Weeverfish Stings

If you or someone you are with is stung by a Weeverfish, place the inflamed area in hot (but not scalding) water. Be sure to test the temperature of the water before applying.

The sting from a jellyfish can be very painful, and in some instances life threatening. If it is a standard, non-life threatening sting, the best thing to do to reduce the painful swelling is to spray it with urine or sea water. Don’t rub it as this will make it worse. Then, apply a cold compress or ice if you can. If the sting seems particularly severe, or the individual affected is suffering from other symptoms such as raised pulse or breathing difficulties, seek immediate medical attention.

Safe use of inflatables

Don’t go beyond the red and yellow flags that demarcate the safe zone. Stay near to any children in your care, and supervise them at all times. Don’t let them try to tackle big waves, and stay out of the water entirely when the orange windsock is flying.

Stay safe in the sun

Although many people take beach holidays purely to enjoy the sunshine, you should still remember to avoid direct exposure to the sun, particularly around midday. Sunburn can ruin any trip, as well as increasing your risk of contracting skin cancer.  Cover up and wear the strongest sunscreen you can find if you want to minimise your risk. Remember the old slogan:

SLIP on a T-shirt
SLAP on a hat
SLOP on some sunscreen

Choosing a beach

Lastly, consider the implications of any beach you head to - are there slippery rocks or dangerous drops? Is there a lifeguard present? Anything you can do to minimise your risk is worth it. And remember to take out adequate insurance cover for any holiday. Have a look at the Go Travel Insurance website for a quote on annual travel insurance.