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All things Siesta Key. Stories, news, and event information about Sarasota, Florida's beautiful beach.
How to Stay Safe On the Beach and At the Pool
There is nothing worse than getting injured or feeling ill while on vacation, especially if you are visiting the beautiful Siesta Key. Even a sunburn can put a damper on your beach vacation or make a relaxing day by the pool a little more stressful. Here at Best Western Siesta Key, our goal is to ensure that your visit and stay with us is easy, fun, and memorable in all the right ways. That’s why we are sharing our water safety guide to offer a few friendly reminders while you hit the beach and pool on Florida’s breathtaking Gulf Coast.
Stay Hydrated
One of the most obvious health and safety tips for a hot day is to drink a lot of water and stay hydrated. It can be easy to indulge in alcoholic beverages and dehydrating snacks while playing beach volleyball or sunbathing, creating a recipe for disaster and a quick road to dehydration. Even if you feel cool swimming in the water, taking a water break and snacking on fruits and veggies is crucial to keep your hydration levels up.
Bring Floats, Rafts, and Lifejackets
If you, a friend, or a family member is not a strong swimmer, having pool floats and rafts will aid everyone in having a nice and relaxing time in the water. We also recommend that young kids wear lifejackets or swimming aids while enjoying the pool or beach. These tools can also come in handy if someone gets tired treading water or in an emergency.
Swim with a Buddy
No matter how old you are, whether you are three years old, a strong 20-something, or past retirement, swimming with a buddy or while a lifeguard is present and on duty is our number one water safety rule. Anything can happen, and swimming with a buddy can prevent a serious injury or emergency.
Have an Easy-to-Find Meeting Spot
Anyone visiting Siesta Key Beach will recognize the various colored lifeguard stands that brighten up the sand. Back in the 90s, these stands were built to help lost kids find their families. Today, these lifeguard stands make the perfect landmark for friends and families to stay together or easily meet up after swimming in the Gulf or walking by the water.
Don’t Swim on a Red Flag Day
Reading rules and regulations at the pool is always a good idea to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you. When heading to the beach, the same is true for taking note of the different colored flags waving by the lifeguard stands and familiarizing yourself with their meanings. The most critical colored flag to watch out for is red. If you spot a red flag or double red flag, this is your cue to stay away from the water and perhaps rethink your plans for the day.
Listen for Thunder
Florida weather can be pretty unpredictable, especially in the Siesta Key area. Be sure to keep your eyes and ears open for signs of a storm during the late spring and summer months, especially during hurricane season. While Florida’s summer thunderstorms can sometimes only last a few minutes, leaving the pool or beach at the first sign of thunder or lightning is still important. If it looks like your whole day by the water will be rained out, there is so much to see, do, and explore indoors on Siesta Key and around Sarasota.
Pack Extra Sunscreen & Extra Clothes
Florida’s crazy weather does not just pertain to rain and storms, but hot sunny afternoons and chilly mornings and sunsets. Whether you apply sunscreen in the morning, it is imperative that you bring extra sunscreen with you to reapply in the afternoon when the sun is at its strongest. Throwing in some extra towels and clothes into your beach bag can also come in handy if you get caught in the rain, experience a sunburn, or get chilly later on.
When it comes to your health and safety, you can never be too prepared. From packing your beach bags with essentials like water, fruit, and sunscreen to being aware and educated on general water safety and rules of the pool and beach, we are sure your Siesta Key vacation and stay at Best Western Siesta Key will be easy-breezy and amazing.