Indian Rocks Beach can provide hours of entertainment for the whole family. Sunning, shelling, swimming, skim boarding, and surf-fishing are just a few of the activities that locals and visitors enjoy during a day at the beach. While Indian Rocks Beach is known to generally be a "safe beach", it is important to remember that the Gulf of Mexico is a large, natural body of water that is subject to weather patterns and atmospheric conditions and is also home to marine-life which commands a certain amount of healthy respect.

The information & tips outlined below will help ensure that your time at the beach, is most pleasurable. 

Sunning/tanning - Always be sure to apply waterproof sunscreen with an SPF of 45 or more when you head to the beach. If you are in and out of the water, or if you perspire a lot, you will want to remember to reapply at regular intervals. Remember to drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids to stay adequately hydrated. You may also want to pack a hat and be sure to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes.

Sunburn/sun poisoning - If you happen to over-expose yourself and end up with a sunburn, you may want to apply some aloe vera gel to the burned area to help cool the burn, and keep the skin moisturized. Storing the aloe gel in the refrigerator between uses keeps the gel cool and helps cool the burn at time of application. If you experience significant itching, redness, blisters or symptoms including nausea, rapid pulse, rapid breathing, fever, dizziness, fatigue, headache, chills, fluid loss, and electrolyte imbalance; you may have a more severe sunburn which is also referred to as sun poisoning. Treatment for sun poisoning may include the application of calamine lotion to calm the itching or an antihistamine to reduce swelling. If you have open blisters you should take precautions to avoid infection. A visit to a local Doctor or walk-in clinic is highly recommended.

Heat stroke & Dehydration - The hottest period of the day (on the beach) is between 11 A.M and 3 P.M., If you plan to be on the beach during this time, you will need to be sure to drink lots of water to stay hydrated. It is also a good idea to bring a beach umbrella with you during your outing. Heat stroke is a very dangerous condition and can be fatal if not treated immediately. Some of the symptoms of heat stroke may be: high body temperature, red, dry flushed skin, rapid pulse, difficulty breathing, confusion, disorientation, agitation, hallucinations, and seizures. If you, or someone in your presence is experiencing any of these symptoms you need to cool them down by moving them to a shaded area, remove any excess clothing, spray or splash them with cool water, apply ice packs to back of neck and under armpits, administer fluids (water or gatorade) to rehydrate them and call 911 for emergency medical help. Young children & the elderly are at highest risk for heat stroke after prolonged exposure to the sun, heat and high humidity.

Swimming/snorkeling - Always be sure to let a buddy or friend know when you are entering the water alone. Try to stay in the general vicinity of your buddy or friends who are on-shore. Young children should be closely supervised and should wear some sort of brightly colored flotation device while they are near or in the water. It is also recommended to remain inside the designated swimming area to avoid boat & wave-runner traffic. Also, the deeper the water the bigger the fish (such as sharks). It is also strongly suggested that you avoid wearing shiny or flashy jewelry objects into the water as they can resemble certain types of bait fish (this can be confusing to larger feeding fish) and you might be mistaken for a fish dinner.

Rip Currents - 

Sting Rays - When entering the water from the beach, you should always shuffle your feet in the sand as you walk. This is know as the "stingray shuffle". During certain times of the year (generally May through October), and at certain times of the day, stingrays will come close to shore to feed. Stingrays have long barbed tails with poisonous stingers on the end. As a natural defense, a stingray that gets stepped-on will raise its tail, and sting you in the leg, foot or ankle. If you shuffle your feet as you enter the water, it stirs-up the sand and warns the stingrays to move away from you; helping you to avoid a painful and unnecessary sting. If you happen to get stung by a stingray while in the water, it is very painful, so you will want to treat it immediately! The best treatment for a stingray sting is to immediately soak the affected area in the hottest fresh water that you can safely tolerate. During this process, the poison/venom will usually become jelly-like and ooze from the wound (this is a good sign that the hot water is drawing the venom out of the wound). If you are stung in the chest, abdomen, neck, head, or in an artery, seek immediate emergency medical attention as these types of stings can result in death. If you experience any nausea, vomiting, muscle cramping or chills, go to the nearest emergency room immediately, as this could be a sign of an allergic reaction or overdose of venom that requires immediate professional medical attention.

Jellyfish - 

Red-Tide - In Florida red-tide is caused by K.brevis which is a plant-like microorganism. This organism produces a toxin that can affect the central nervous system of fish, birds, mammals and other animals. At high concentrations this organism may cause discoloration of the water; turning it red, brown, light or dark green or clear. Red tide blooms can last days, weeks, or months and can change daily due to wind conditions. Onshore winds bring the bloom near the shoreline and offshore winds push the bloom out to sea.

Red-tide Affects on Health - Many people can safely swim in red-tide waters but it can cause skin & eye irritation in more sensitive types of people. If you experience irritations from red-tide, you should shower in fresh water to thoroughly remove any remnants of the bloom that may be on the skin. People with respiratory problems should avoid red-tide areas, especially when the winds are blowing the blooms onshore. If you use an inhaler, be sure to bring it with you to the beach. If symptoms persist leave the beach and get into an air conditioned space. Symptoms are usually temporary and include coughing, sneezing, tearing eyes and breathing/respiratory problems.

Red-tide affects on surf-fish & seafood - Commercial safood is regulated and therefore is safe to eat during a red-tide bloom. Eating local-cught seafood from a red-tide bloom area is not safe. Clams and oysters (mollusks) found in red-tide bloom areas contain a toxin that causes NSP (neurotoxic shellfish poisoning). Fin-fish caught live can be eaten if filleted and shimp & crabs (crustaceans) are safe to eat. Do not ever eat dead fish from a red-tide caused fish-kill. For more information on red-tide in Florida visit http://www.redtideonline.com or call the Red Tide Health Hotline at 1-888-232-8635 (24/7 medical professionals available to answer red-tide health questions).

No See 'ems (sand flies)& mosquitos - Take your bug repellent with you when you head to the beach. Sand flies are tiny little bugs that are hard to see (like fleas) but their stinging bite can be felt when they are biting at your ankles. Some people are more sensitive to these pesky little bugs, than others, and will have more severe reactions to their bites. These pesky bugs are more active in the evening hours, especially when the air is still and the humidity and heat are high. The same hold true with mosquitos.