Summer’s here and the time is right for some seasonal warnings.
Memorial Day marks an unofficial start to summer, a season that brings warmer water, crowded beaches, afternoon storms and changes in behavior for animals on the shore and in the water.
So with the celebration of the new season — especially for those on break or holiday — come a series of cautions:
- Stingrays are being reported in the waters around AMI.
The rays are not aggressive but they are defensive, equipped with a venomous barb near the base of their tail.
In the summer, people entering shallow water should do the “stingray shuffle,” lightly sliding or shuffling your feet out — one at a time — to push the sand forward.
Why shuffle?
To give the stingray time to swim away.
If stung by a ray, use hot, freshwater to flush the wound and soak the wound as soon as possible.
- Look for warning flags on beaches.
With a glance at the lifeguard stands on the monitored beaches, people can check for hazards in the water.
Two red flags: Water closed.
Red flag: High hazard, high surf, strong currents.
Yellow flag: Medium hazard.
Green flag: Low hazard, calm conditions.
Purple flag: Dangerous marinelife.
- When thunderstorms are in the forecast, lightning can be a threat. Did you know that each year there are about 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes?
Give yourself enough time to pack and leave the shore ahead of a storm.
- Rip currents are responsible for a majority of drowning deaths in Florida.
The best safety measure is to swim where lifeguards are on duty.
If you are not a strong swimmer, go only knee deep into water.
If caught in a rip current, try to relax and do not swim against the current. Instead, try to tread water and float while calling for help. If help is not available, swim parallel to the shore until released from the current and then swim toward shore, letting the waves do the work.
- The summer season is nesting season for shorebirds and sea turtles.
Beachgoers should respect nesting habitat, maintain a distance from wildlife and keep the shoreline clear of litter.
— Lisa Neff