Summer means trips to the beach, and if you have kids, a trip to the beach means digging in the sand. But just how clean is that sand that your kids are using to bury themselves or to build forts and castles?
Playing with sand could put kids and adults at increased risk of developing gastrointestinal illnesses such as diarrhea, according to a new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The researchers looked at seven beaches around the country and interviewed more than 27,000 people who’d visited those beaches. Though only a relatively small number of kids developed gastrointestinal symptoms, researchers note that the risk is real: sand can provide ideal conditions for bacteria such as E. coli to breed. Ugh.
So the next time you and your family hit the beach, make sure your kids wash their hands often, especially before eating. At the very least, be sure they use a hand sanitizer. Even if the beach you visit looks clean, the sand that your kids are playing with could lead to tummy trouble unless you play it safe.
Have you and your family had time to hit the beach this summer? What are your top beach safety tips?