As millions of people spend the Fourth of July weekend on the water, first responders want to ensure they are doing it safely. On Friday, Cocoa Beach was packed with families and friends enjoying the three-day holiday weekend. However, bigger crowds can mean more distractions — both on land and on the waterways.
Safety Concerns
Dr. Richard Harrison, an orthopedic surgeon at Orlando Health in Melbourne, expressed concerns about boating accidents and drownings. “Along our coast, we always have to worry about rip currents,” Harrison said. “Remember, if you’re ever caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the beach and you’ll end up getting out of it instead of trying to fight it.” Harrison also warned about the dangers of dehydration due to higher temperatures, advising people to take breaks in air conditioning and drink water and electrolytes to stay cool.
If you aren’t feeling well and begin sweating excessively or feeling nauseous or dizzy, you could be experiencing heat exhaustion. If you stop sweating and continue to feel sick or even pass out, you could be having heat stroke and should call 911.
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
