Must Do Sarasota Visitor Guide Winter/Spring 2018

Florida
Sunshine Survival Tips
Tips for
Finding Beautiful Shells
There’s a reason why Florida is known as the “Sunshine State”. This
subtropical state has year-round sunshine making it gorgeous for a
vacation, but it can catch visitors unawares if they are not taking some
precautions. Dehydration, heat exhaustion, sunburn, and sunstroke
can spoil your vacation, yet they are very easy to avoid by following our
Florida Sunshine Survival Tips.
The Suncoast is home to miles of sugar sand beaches and soothing
emerald green waters. Shelling can be a rewarding way to explore
the area. Check out these easy tips to make sure your shell hunting
experience is enjoyable and successful:
Low tide is the best time to wade out and
search for new shells, or search the tideline after stormy weather.
Wear Cool Loose Clothing The best way to stay
cool is by wearing clothing that is loose fitting and preferably made of
cotton or natural fabrics. Loose dresses, shirts, tops, and shorts are
preferable to jeans and tight-fitting clothing if you are to stay looking
and feeling cool and comfortable. Swap shoes and sneakers for open
sandals. If you still feel hot and sweaty, use a handheld fan. When the
body sweats it loses fluid, salt, and minerals. Water depletion can cause
a dry mouth, headaches, and fainting while symptoms of salt depletion
include muscle spasms, cramps, and vomiting.
Check tide charts and moon phases to see when low tide will be.
Full or new moons will bring the most extreme tides which mean
even better shelling.
Don’t Overdo the Sunshine Heat stroke technically occurs when the body’s core temperature
SHUTTERSTOCK
Less is more – there are thousands of others who will
come to these beaches in search of shells. Grab a few that really
catch your eye and leave the rest to someone else or Mother
Nature. She’ll thank you later. In addition, shells can play a large
part in the local ecosystem. Going too crazy could disturb that
natural cycle.
MARY CAROL FITZGERALD
reaches 105°F or above. It can cause nausea, confusion, disorientation, seizures, fainting, cramps, and shallow breathing as
the body struggles to cool itself. Anyone showing these symptoms should be treated as a medical emergency. Remove any
unnecessary clothing, cool the body by bathing with a cool wash cloth or put them in a cool air-conditioned room and seek
medical advice. Give the sufferer plenty of cool drinks of water and monitor their symptoms carefully.
Lather up with SPF Sunscreen Frequently Most Florida visitors diligently apply
sunscreen first thing in the morning when they hit the beach. However, sunscreen does not last all day. The Sun Protection
Factor (SPF) indicates how much longer you can stay in the sun so SPF 15 means that a person who burns in 5 minutes is
theoretically protected for 75 minutes. However, it is recommended that you reapply sun lotion every two hours and after
you have been in the pool or sea. Sunscreen does not just prevent your skin from burning; it also screens out harmful ultra
violet rays that can cause skin cancer. UVA rays cause wrinkles and premature aging, while UVB rays burn the skin, so choose
a good quality sunscreen that keeps them both at bay.
Drink Plenty of Water Keeping your fluid intake high to counter the heat is important, however,
drinking beer or alcoholic drinks can actually leave you more dehydrated than ever. If you drink a glass of beer your body
will actually expel three times that amount leaving you dangerously dehydrated. The more alcohol you drink, the more
dehydrated you will become as alcohol affects the body’s fluid levels. Eating salty snacks is another way to cause the body
to lose fluid from its cells, and sugar-high sodas and sports drinks create a similar problem. You need to drink pure water
throughout the day to counter dehydration, and avoid sweet or alcoholic drinks until the cooler evening. A tip for measuring
whether you are drinking enough is to check you are visiting the bathroom as frequently as usual.
We want you to enjoy every minute of your vacation in southwest Florida, so make sure you pay attention to these sunshine
survival tips and stay cool and healthy!
12 WINTER | SPRING 2018 MustDo.com
MARY CAROL FITZGERALD
Practice smart shelling It’s
a good idea to wear sandals to avoid treading
on sharp shells or stingrays buried in the sand.
Take a bucket or bag to collect your finds and
check each shell is empty before adding it to
your collection. Taking shells with live inhabitants
is prohibited, so be sure “it’s creature free or
leave it be.” Remember – a shell is a hard protective
exterior for sea animals. Be respectful of these
homes and look for something that’s already
vacant.
Seashells can smell if not properly cleaned. Soak
all your shells in a bucket of 50-50 bleach and
water. Once the flaky covering (periostracum)
has gone, remove the shells, rinse, and let them
dry. File any rough edges if you wish and give
the shells a shine by wiping them with baby oil.
MARY CAROL FITZGERALD