Beach camping can be an inexpensive and happy holiday for families with kids. All that is basically needed is the campground fee, something comfortable to pile in and sleep, and good food. Taking the time to experience nature where the sea and sky converge, and sharing it with children, can make the experience really magical. Here are five tips for beach camping with kids that may be helpful.
Keeping Kids Comfortable
Running around all day in damp swim wear or shorts means that sand will get everywhere. Chafing can happen in some very tender spots. Cleaning off the sand and applying a film of petroleum jelly is quite soothing; it’s also good for chapped lips and faces. Additional changes of clothes should also be kept in hand.
Too much wind and water can make for an earache. Hydrogen peroxide, or drops that dry water in the ear canal, and a supply of cotton balls should be taken along.
Even on the warmest days, cool air can blow in off of the water. Bring along additional blankets and towels for staying warm and dry.
Beach Safety for the Family
The first rule of safety for kids and parents alike is to never turn their backs on the ocean. A wave can knock a little one down in a second. Children who cannot swim well should wear flotation devices and have an adult nearby when they are near the water.
Digging in the sand can be a lot of fun, but it can also pose a risk for kids. According to researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Environmental Protection Agency in a study published in the July 2009 issue of American Journal of Epidemiology, digging in the sand leads to an increased risk of diarrhea and various stomach illnesses. Parents should be prepared for illnesses that may suddenly pop up.
Bonfires when beach camping are wonderful, but kids especially should admire them from a safe distance.
Beach Camping Food
All of the running and playing at the beach can work up a huge appetite. Store food in tightly sealed containers to prevent sand and ocean water from mixing with the food. Never leave it lying out unattended also, as this can attract animals and birds.
Sun Protection for Kids
Kids need to wear sun screen at all times while they are outside at the beach. Parents should look for a sun screen that is water proof and sweat proof. Frequent reapplying is going to be necessary for kids who are playing.
The sun, along with the wind and salty ocean water, can dehydrate kids very easily. Keep bottles of fresh water on hand for drinking. Use an ice chest with a lid to keep the water cool and protected.
Obey Warning Signs
Most beaches will post warning signs along them to let visitors know of potential hazards. Kids need to be aware of these signs and reminded to check what signs are present in their area. Some sections of the beach may be blocked from swimming for various reasons, kids need to be able to understand and not swim in these areas.
Parents have to spend fifty weeks or so every year being the authority figures; they deserve to spend vacation time being silly, carefree, and really enjoying their kids. Hopefully these five tips for beach camping with kids will be the inspiration for a great vacation.
Home Remedies for Sunburn
Summer sunshine and playing outdoors go together but if we don’t follow certain guidelines, we can pay the price with painful sunburn. The pain of sunburn may last up to a week but will be worst between six and forty-eight hours of sun exposure. Injured layers of skin will peel away in three to ten days but the damage will remain.
Dermatologists tell us that prolonged exposure to sunlight breaks down the tissue structure of the skin. Cells shrivel and die, dilated blood vessels may leak fluid, and DNA sequences are damaged, predisposing the skin to cancer. Just one severe sunburn can double your chances of malignant melanoma later in life, not to mention greater wrinkling at a premature age. .
With that in mind, the best sunburn treatment is prevention. These days sun exposure is particularly hazardous because of the thinning of the ozone layer which allows more of the sun’s harmful rays to shine through. Avoid direct sunlight as much as possible, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM and always wear a sunscreen with a SPF (sunscreen protection factor) of at least 15. If you’re in and out of water, remember to reapply each time. However, some people leave this off in their quest for a golden tan, and underestimating the strength of those ultraviolet rays, end up a painful lobster red instead.
In sunburn cases where dizziness, fever, chills, nausea, headaches, swelling, purple blotches, excessive itching, visual difficulties, or fluid filled blisters are experienced, the treatment of a doctor should be sought. However, mild sunburns, though quite painful, can be treated at home. A number of home remedies may help soothe burned skin.
If blisters are present, keep them uncovered if possible and do not break them. Blisters are the body’s way of protecting the burned area and opening them invites infection.
Lubricants such as petroleum jelly or butter may feel good but they actually cause the skin to retain heat and should not be applied on the first day. Products with benzocaine may provide temporary relief but can aggravate irritated skin and ultimately delay healing.
These home remedies are simply suggestions and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. If your sunburn is serious, seek the help of a doctor immediately.
