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As you cram your family, beach chairs, towels, beach umbrella, and cooler into the car for a summer getaway, the last thing you’re likely to be thinking about are dangerous skin infections, questionable sunscreen chemicals, and E. coli bacteria. But to make sure your family doesn’t get too sick to swim, do some homework before planning your trip, use our simple beach safety tips, and keep ocean conservation in mind even at home to improve the health of the oceans we love to swim in.

Learn more from the Rodale.com news archive:

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Don’t Get Burned by Unsafe Sunscreen

What you can do: Although it takes a little bit of extra effort, favor sunscreens with a white tint that are harder to rub into your skin.

5 Fixes for a Better Beach Trip

What you can do: Bypass sunscreens with certain ingredients; take a quick shower to wash off potentially deadly bacteria.

Study: Building Sandcastles Could Make You Sick

What you can do: Don’t eat food at the beach unless you’ve thoroughly washed your hands; make use of beach showers to wash yourself off after a day of sandy fun.

Which Sunscreen Is Best? None of Them

What you can do: Don’t slather mindlessly. Find the sunscreen that works best for your situation, and consider it just one part of your UV ray defenses.

How to Beat Beach Poisoning

What you can do: Before your trip, contact beach-town health officials and ask if they use rapid water testing.

Save the Oceans This Saturday

What you can do: Grab a trash bag and a pair of thick gloves, and hit the beach.

How to Avoid Dirty Beaches This July 4th Weekend

What you can do: Use online tools to find a clean beach; don't swim after a storm. And if it smells, don't go in.