Wildwood Beaches
Tags - FREE on all the Wildwood beaches!

Beautiful, white, safe, guarded beaches from about Memorial Day until Labor Day - 10 AM - 5:30 PM. These beaches are the widest at the Jersey shore. Where other beaches in South Jersey have a tendency to erode each year, Wildwood seems to be the recipient of their "lost" beaches. Best of all - there are no beach fees. No alcohol, barbeques or glass containers allowed on any of the beaches.

Besides sunning and bathing in the clean ocean water (chemists test the ocean water daily), you can walk and hunt for "Cape May Diamonds" - quartz stones that have been polished smooth by the changing tides. Beach access is restricted during the season from 10 pm to 6 am - May through September. You can rent beach chairs and umbrellas if you don't bring your own (in season only). The beaches in Wildwood are the widest on the coast and there is plenty of room to spread your beach towel and enjoy the lazy hazy days of summer.

Parking on peak days can be somewhat trying, so try to arrive early, otherwise don't bring more than you can comfortably carry for a quarter-mile
Warning - wear some type of beach shoes as the sand can become very, very hot, and the distance from the street to the ocean could really burn your feet.
There is handicap access to the beach. The Beach Patrol has sand wheelchairs at NO cost to you. They are on a first come first serve basis at the Taylor Avenue and Lincoln Avenue beach patrol buildings - 522-5852

There are public bath houses in Wildwood. There is one at 116 East Poplar Avenue and another at Nomad Parking at 4320 Boardwalk.

From October through May, you can surf fish from all the beaches but during the summer you must check with the beach patrol. Pets are allowed on beaches from October to May but are NOT allowed on the boardwalk at any time. Pets must always be on a leash and owners are responsible for cleaning up after them.

Ocean and Beach Safety Tips
Safety tips from the American Red Cross

Sunburn
The following steps have been recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin Cancer Foundation to help reduce the risk of sunburn and skin cancer

* Minimize your exposure to the sun at midday and between the hours of 10:00 am and 3:00 PM

* Apply sunscreen with at least a SPF-15 or higher, to all areas of the body which are exposed to the sun

* Reapply sunscreen every two hours, even on cloudy days. Reapply after swimming or perspiring

* Wear clothing that covers your body and shades your face

* Avoid exposure to UV radiation from sunlamps or tanning parlors

* Protect your children. Keep them from excessive sun exposure when the sun is strongest (10:00AM and 3:00PM), and apply sunscreen liberally and frequently to children 6 months of age and older

* Do not use sunscreen on children under 6 months of age. Parents with children under 6 months of age should severely limit their children's sun exposure

* Always consult a physician with your questions concerning the health effects of UV exposure

Sunburn Prevention
Prevention is the best remedy here, if you can. Long-term results from excessive exposure to the sun, such as skin cancer and wrinkled skin, can be avoided with proper precautions. One of the best preventatives is to use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 that offers protection against both UVA and UVB rays. You can get as much sun sightseeing as baking at the beach, so use sunscreen whenever you are outdoors.

Use an aloe vera lotion containing a sunblock. This will cut out 90% of the burning rays and allow 75% of the tanning rays to reach the skin.

To speed healing take the following supplements for a few days after getting burned: 1,000 mg of vitamin C, 400 I.U. of vitamin E, 15 mg of beta carotene, and 1-2 tablespoons (or about 3 capsules per teaspoon) of flaxseed oil, an essential fatty acid.
Caution: don't ever cover a sunburn that is blistered or open with an ointment, oil, salve or butter, for it will make the area susceptible to infection.

Sunburn Remedies
If you should get sunburned, here are some old wives tales or folk remedies to use

Remember - If you turn bright red, get blisters, have fever, chills and nausea - CONSULT A DOCTOR

Jellyfish and Other Beach Hazards
Jellyfish can be more harmful than they appear with long, spindly tentacles that can inflict red welts and severe pain. If you should happen to come into unfriendly contact with one, however, here are some remedies to ease your pain

* Wash the area with sea water
* Apply vinegar, or if it is unavailable, rubbing alcohol or baking soda
* Remove tentacles with tweezers
* Apply shaving cream and shave area with a butter knife or tongue blade
* Reapply vinegar and apply cortisone cream
* A physician should be contacted immediately if any of the following symptoms develop: nausea, vomiting, joint pain, headache, shortness of breath or a stumbling gait
* One of our visitors raves about the benefits of pressing a fresh slice of papaya on the sting. Welts are supposed to disappear within minutes
Coping With Stings
Bees, hornets and wasps are among the more common stingers in our area and their stings can cause pain, swelling and redness for up to 2 days. Here are some ways to relieve the discomfort. To avoid stings, walk calmly away from insects and avoid wearing perfume or bright yellow clothes when outdoors
* Drag the stinger and sting sac out of the wound with a needle. As a last resort, a credit card can be used. Do not use tweezers because they could cause more venom to be squeezed out
* Wash the wound with soap and water and apply cold compresses to reduce the swelling
* Take an aspirin or Tylenol if you feel continuing discomfort
* If you experience dizziness or difficulty breathing, get emergency help immediately

Please Note: This information is provided as a guideline and not intended as medical advice. If complications arise due to a jellyfish or insect sting, contact your doctor immediately.