Top 10 Swim and Sun Myths

Myth No. 1: There’s a high risk of being eaten by a shark when you swim in the ocean.

False! First off, sharks very rarely attack people -- and when they do, they usually bite only once. Sharks tend to attack things floating on top of the water because from below, they look like seals … so standing in the ocean is much safer than floating. It’s still a good idea to avoid areas near fishermen or feeding waterbirds, and avoid swimming at dawn or dusk.

Myth No. 2: SPF 30 is twice as good as SPF 15 at protecting you from the sun.

False! SPF 15 protects your skin against 93 percent of the sun’s rays, and SPF 30 protects against 97 percent. Any SPF much higher than 30 is probably a waste of money.

Myth No. 3: Tanning oil provides sun protection.

False! Some tanning oils provide a slight amount of sun protection, but oil with SPF 4 or even 8 does little good. Oil attracts the sun’s rays, plain and simple.

Myth No. 4: You must turn your chair to face the sun if you want an even tan.

False! If you spend a full week at the beach, your tan will even out naturally -- no matter which direction you face. It is possible, however, that if you spend only one day at the beach, you could end up with an uneven tan. Nevertheless, your skin will naturally even itself out and fade within about two days anyway.

Myth No. 5: There are no fish in the surf because it’s too rough.

False! Lots of small, young fish live in the surf because they’re safer there from large predators. These little critters are harmless, so look for them next time you’re frolicking in the waves.

Myth No. 6: Tanning beds are safer than the sun.

False! It’s true that you might spend less time in a tanning bed than you would in the sun. Still, the UVA exposure of artificial lighting is more intense than the sun. If you get enough artificial exposure to get a tan, you’re getting enough to cause skin damage.

Myth No. 7: You need to wait an hour after eating before going in the water, or you’ll get a cramp and drown.

False! It is debatable that activity after eating can bring on stomach cramps, but there are no reported deaths or near-drownings associated with cramps after eating.

Myth No. 8: You can’t get sunburned on a cloudy day.

False! The heat you feel from sunlight is infrared -- wavelengths below the red end of the visible spectrum. UVA and UVB rays are ultraviolet -- above the violet end of the visible spectrum. Long story short, heat, visible light and UV are not the same things … so just because some are blocked, it doesn’t mean others are. Some clouds do block UV rays, but sometimes clouds can increase UV by reflecting and refracting the sun’s rays.

Myth No. 9: Urine is the best remedy for a jellyfish sting.

False! Chances are, you have something around that would work better: vinegar, meat tenderizer, rubbing alcohol, baking soda, lemon juice and household ammonia all work well. Depending on the concentration of the urine, it could actually make the sting sting more.

Myth No. 10: You only need to drink water when you’re thirsty.

False! On a hot summer day, you might already be dehydrated by the time you feel thirsty. Drink water frequently enough to avoid becoming thirsty in the first place. You can use your pee as an indicator of how hydrated you are: Clearer pee means you are well-hydrated; if your pee is very yellow, it means you need to drink more.