Flesh-Eating Bacteria and Other Ocean Hazards Indiana & Kentucky Vacationers Should Know

Hidden Ocean Dangers Every Beach Vacationer Should Know

My family and I look forward to going to the beach every summer. If I didn't have family obligations here in the Tri-State, I'd move to a coastal area in a heartbeat. I'm a beach girl through and through.

In fact, we were supposed to go adventuring in Colorado this year, but I had to cancel at the last minute and we booked a trip to Gulf Shores instead. The beach is my annual reset button.

But as much as I love the ocean, it comes with its own dangers. And in some cases, climate change and warming water temperatures are making those risks more common.

Flesh-Eating Bacteria Can Be Found in Warm Coastal Waters

I was scrolling Facebook the other day when I noticed a warning from a page called Finest Florida Beaches.

During the summer, when ocean temperatures rise, a naturally occurring bacterium called Vibrio vulnificus can thrive in saltwater and brackish coastal waters. While infections are rare, the bacteria can be extremely dangerous. People can become infected by eating raw shellfish, especially oysters, or when an open wound comes into contact with contaminated water.

The bacteria affects roughly 100 to 200 people each year, and several cases have already been reported this year which doesn't sound like a lot until you consider that the bacteria kills one in five people who are affected.

When Vibrio enters open wounds, fresh piercings, or new tattoos, it can cause severe infections, sepsis, and large, spreading blisters that destroy tissue. It's often referred to as "flesh-eating bacteria" because it can lead to necrotizing fasciitis and life-threatening bloodstream infections.

How to Protect Yourself From Vibrio Infections

Avoid swimming in saltwater or brackish water if you have an open cut, scrape, fresh piercing, or new tattoo.

If you decide to swim anyway, completely cover the area with a heavy-duty waterproof bandage or hydrocolloid patch. After leaving the water, thoroughly wash the wound with soap and clean water.

Raw or undercooked shellfish can also cause illness, particularly oysters. People with underlying health conditions should be especially cautious.

Jellyfish Stings Can Ruin a Beach Day

Another ocean hazard is jellyfish.

Those long tentacles trailing behind a jellyfish contain thousands of microscopic stingers capable of injecting venom. Most jellyfish species aren't dangerous, but they can still deliver a painful sting.

In some areas, beaches can become overrun with jellyfish, making swimming less enjoyable. While serious reactions are uncommon, jellyfish can be deadly if someone is allergic to the venom or encounters a particularly venomous species.

What to Do If You Get Stung

According to the Mayo Clinic, you should immediately rinse the area with seawater or vinegar, depending on the species, to help deactivate the venom. And, no, don't let anyone pee on you. That's just gross!

Carefully remove visible tentacles using tweezers or a towel. Soaking the affected area in hot water between 110 and 113 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes may help relieve pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers can also help.

If jellyfish are common where you're vacationing, consider wearing protective clothing such as a full-body rash guard or jellyfish suit.

Rip Currents and Powerful Waves Can Turn Dangerous Fast

A few years ago, my family and I were vacationing in Hawaii. We were at a beach popular with families and snorkelers, happily splashing around in relatively shallow water.

Growing up with Florida beaches, I was used to calm surf. Then I looked out and saw a gigantic wave heading straight toward us.

I motioned for my family to get out of the water, but we couldn't move fast enough.

That wave hit like a freight train.

I remember getting knocked under, finally resurfacing, and then getting slammed again by the waves behind it. My entire family got the same treatment. I was digging sand out of my ears for what felt like years afterward.

That experience reminded me just how powerful the ocean really is. If you're anywhere near it, conditions can change in an instant.

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What to Do If You're Caught in a Rip Current

Rip currents are powerful channels of water that move away from shore.

According to NOAA's Dr. Greg Dusek, the most important thing you can do is stay calm. A rip current won't pull you underwater. It pulls you away from shore.

If you find yourself caught in one, stay calm and conserve your energy. Float if necessary and call or wave for help. Resist the urge to swim directly back toward shore because you'll only exhaust yourself fighting the current. Instead, swim parallel to the shoreline until you're out of the current, then angle your way back to shore.

If someone else is caught in a rip current, don't attempt a rescue yourself unless you're trained. Many would-be rescuers become victims. Instead, throw the person something that floats and immediately alert a lifeguard.

This video shows you what a rip current looks like and what to do to get out.

Sea Lice Can Leave You Covered in Itchy Bites

These little guys probably won't kill you, unless you have an extremely rare allergic reaction, but they can definitely make your vacation miserable.

It's sea lice season along portions of the East Coast.

Sea lice aren't actually lice. They're tiny jellyfish or sea anemone larvae that can become trapped under swimsuits, rash guards, or even in your hair. Their microscopic stings can leave behind an itchy rash that often appears hours after swimming.

How to Treat Sea Lice Rash

Rinse the affected skin thoroughly and use an anti-itch cream if needed.

Also, wash your swimsuit before wearing it again, as lingering larvae can continue causing irritation.

Yes, There Are Sharks in the Water

If you're swimming in the ocean, even in shallow water, you're swimming with sharks.

The real question is whether they care about you.

Fortunately, most sharks have little interest in humans. They're generally smart enough to distinguish between people and their preferred prey.

According to NOAA, shark attacks are rare, but they most often occur near shore, particularly around sandbars and drop-offs where fish tend to gather.

How to Reduce Your Risk of a Shark Encounter

To reduce your risk, stay relatively close to shore and swim with other people whenever possible. Avoid entering the water at dawn, dusk, or after dark, when many shark species are more active. Stay out of the water if you're bleeding, leave shiny jewelry on the beach, and skip brightly colored swimwear that may attract unwanted attention.

The odds of a shark attack remain extremely low, but taking a few simple precautions can make an already small risk even smaller.

Enjoy the Beach, But Respect the Ocean

The ocean is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and I'll keep returning every chance I get.

But whether it's bacteria, jellyfish, rip currents, sea lice, sharks, or one surprise wave that leaves you finding sand in weird places months later, it's always worth remembering that the ocean deserves respect.

A little awareness can go a long way toward making sure your beach vacation creates great memories for all the right reasons.