4 Things You Should Always Bring to Protect Your Feet at the Beach

Its summertime! The weather is hot, school is out, and the beach is calling your name. Millions of Americans will be hitting the coast this season, digging their toes in the sand and the water.

But the beach isn’t always all fun and games. There are a lot of hazards to your feet that could turn your vacation into a nightmare.

Before you head to the beach, make sure you grab a few essentials for your sandy toes:

1. Bring Water Shoes: The beach is filled with hazardous objects that can puncture your foot. Cuts, scrapes and puncture wounds are common among beachgoers, which can quickly develop into an infection if not properly treated. While you may think that dipping the cut in the saltwater will help “clean it out,” it will actually do the opposite. Oceans and lakes are filled with bacteria, and an open wound can allow the bacteria to easily enter your body. Reduce the risk of injury by wearing water shoes to help give your feet some added protection.
2. Pack Vinegar, Meat Tenderizer and Baking Soda: No, this isn’t for your beach barbeque! Pack these items in case you suffer any jellyfish stings! Jellyfish regularly swim in shallow water, and can wash up on shore. If you’re not paying attention to where you are walking or swimming, you could be left with a painful sting from its tentacles. Vinegar, meat tenderizer or baking soda can help alleviate pain and swelling associated with the sting. Simply pour this mixture onto the sting for relief. Many home remedies include actually urinating on the sting, but as you can imagine, that’s not sanitary at all and would make for a very awkward scene at the beach!
3. Sunscreen: It goes without saying that you need sunscreen at the beach. But you’re probably forgetting an important spot while applying it—your feet! Your feet are just as susceptible to burns as the rest of your body. Be sure to protect them! You will need to re-apply sunscreen to the feet more often if you tend to wade in the water.
4. Flip Flops for Hot Sand: The sand gets extremely hot in summer, which can leave the bottom of your feet with some pretty serious burns. Always wear a pair of shoes while walking the shoreline!

 

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