5 Beach Traps To Avoid During Your Beach Vacation

Take note of these 5 beach threats before they turn your beach holidays into unforgettable nightmares.

It is summertime again and a lot of people can't just wait to take a dip in the water at the beach right? More so after we have been confined behind the four walls of our home for months. We all miss that oceanic and sandy vacation of ours right? Besides needing to be cautious against the spread of Covid-19 virus, we also need to be wary of potential beach traps that might ruin your vacation. Make sure you take note of these "sandy threats" before they turn your beach holidays into unforgettable nightmares.

5 Beach Traps To Avoid During Your Beach Vacation

1. Sand Flies Bite

We all hate the pesky mosquitoes that suck your blood right? Wait till you meet the insidious sand flies that do more than just prick into your flesh. Before sucking your blood, these sand flies will actually gnaw your flesh first with their tiny sharp teeth. They will not cause disease like mosquitoes yet but they will leave you with a lot of itchy "love bites" bumps that will last for around one week.

Sand fly will eat your flesh first before drinking your blood!

Get rid of sand flies bites: Make sure you apply DEET-based repellent before hitting the beach. Then reapply it again after your swimming sessions.

2. Jellyfish Stings

Ask Marlin and Dory whether jellyfish was dangerous or not in the quest to look for Nemo. Of the 2,000 documented jellyfish species, only 70 species can cause terrible injury to us humans.  Do expect excruciating pain coursing through your body when you are stung by the nematocyst unleashed by the jellyfish with burning reddish or purplish rash.

Jellyfish might look cute...but... 

...they can be very deadly as well

Burn the sting: By applying heat, you can nullify the protein structure of the toxin. You can use a debit or credit card to scrape the stingers of the jellyfish out. Then soak the stung area in slightly hot water (43℃-45℃) for at least 20 minutes. So you do not need to resort to peeing.

3. Pinkeye Alert

Contrary to popular belief, the salt in the ocean has no sterilizing effects. In fact some ocean water can be polluted that it could harbour bacteria that will cause you to be infected with pinkeye. The longer you stay in the "dirty" seawater splashing around, the more damage your eyes will be suffering. Expect itchiness, discharge, redness and even tearing when you come in contact with the water.

Pinkeye can be scary

Wash the pain: If your eyes are itchy after your splashing sessions, rinse them with clean tap water if there is any available you can use bottled mineral water. Repeat this continually for 2 hours and it worsens, you might need to consult a doctor to get some antibiotic eye drops.

4. Bacteria Infested Sand

E. Coli bacteria from animals' faeces and from septic or runoff from sewers might end up in the "beautiful, white" sandy beach that you love to build your sandcastles with. This is probably one of the biggest worry for anyone hitting beach. If you are infected, expect to have diarrhea or in worst case scenario you might end up bed-ridden for days of even have your flesh being devoured by the E. Coli bacteria (very rare).

E. coli bacteria will cause you to AT LEAST suffer from diarrhoea

Sanitize Yourself: Make sure you use hand sanitizer before eating or drinking anything. Make sure your food and beverages are hygienically prepared and packed. And if the smell and sight of a beach are not pleasant the moment you set foot, it is better to go to another beach.

5. Rip Currents

Shark attacks might be one of your concerns but rip currents can be even more dangerous as you cannot even see them. In fact rip current is the deadliest trap in the ocean with around 100 deaths every year in USA alone. In other words, cases of rip current drownings worldwide could be in the thousands.

How to escape from a deadly rip current

Hazardous Calmness: It is said that rough water is often safer compared to the calm spots. If you are caught by the rip current and cannot escape it by swimming parallel to the shore, you should not fight it. Yes! go with the current. Once it dissipates, try swimming parallel to the shore again. Also, try going to beaches where there are lifeguards who can give you professional help.

Make sure your beach holidays will be an enjoyable and pleasant one

There you have it folks~5 beach traps that can be deadly enough to kill you or wreak havoc in your life if you do not take the threats seriously. Then again dangers can be present in any form no matter where we are. However knowing what you are up against will always give you the upper-hand should the needs arise. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Take note of these 5 beach traps so that your vacation to the beach can be a pleasant one with your family loved ones.

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