Ten Safety Tips for Dealing with the Oil Spill on Your Trip to the Beach
We are all troubled by the impact the Deepwater Horizon/BP oil spill is having on our environment. Naturally, many vacation plans to beaches are all set to go since beaches are top destinations for many people during the summer months.
If you continue with your plans for the beach, it is important to know what to look for and how to handle various situations if you’re visiting beaches affected by the spill.
Safety Tips for Beachgoers
Check with the local authorities for the area in which you will be traveling. Many beaches are closed, and it is anticipated more will be closing to public use. The oil spill has spanned over coastal waters from Louisiana to Florida. If your family plans an outing to the beach in the affected areas, you should take the necessary safety measures to protect yourself and your family.
- Obey any signs or directives posted at your location. If it says “beach closed,” oil has been found in the area. Do not go into the water.
- Should oil make contact with your skin, immediately wash it off with soap and water.
- Don’t pick up tar balls, tar pits, or any other oil-bearing particle.
- Pregnant women, young children, or those with compromised immune systems should stay away from any affected areas.
- Do not boat, fish, or swim in affected waters.
- Odors from the oil spill can make you nauseated. If this occurs, remain indoors and in an air conditioned area.
- Keep pets away from water that has been affected.
- Do not eat seafood gathered from oil infested waters.
- Alert authorities to any animals in distress from being covered in oil. Do not attempt to rescue them yourself.
- Take the appropriate contact numbers with you in case you need to alert authorities. Click here for a list of state by state Emergency Response numbers from BP.
Vacation at an Inland Hotel Instead
Everyone wants to vacation in sunny Florida. If you feel uncomfortable going through with your plans for the beach, consider changing your reservations to stay at an inland hotel . Orlando and Central Florida have numerous hotels from which to choose, and you can easily access area beaches that haven’t been affected by the oil spill. You can relax by the pool and choose from a myriad of things to do in the area.
Make your travel plans through OrlandoTravelHotels.com and save an average of $535 when booking your flight and hotel accommodations at the same time. You can still have a whale of a time on your vacation with all the attractions , theme parks , and recreation available in the Orlando area.
