Marina del Rey Hospital

Here is a small habit that punches above its weight. Before you head into the ocean with a fresh cut, scrape or even a new tattoo, cover it with a waterproof bandage, then give it a good rinse when you get out. Ocean and bay water carry bacteria our bodies are not used to, and while serious trouble is uncommon, the wounds that do turn tend to move quickly. A ten second bandage and a rinse is cheap insurance for a long summer in the water.

Here is one that surprises even lifelong locals. After months of dry weather, the first real rain does not just cool things off, it rinses everything off our streets and canyons and carries it straight to the sea. And here is the catch: even if it barely sprinkled where you are, heavier rain upstream can still foul the water near you. That is why the clear calm ocean a day after a storm can be the riskiest swim of the year. Give it three days, and when in doubt check the local water quality grade before you wade back in.

Sand is harder to walk on than it looks, and it matters more as our balance shifts over the years. The fix is not staying off the beach. It is a few simple habits that keep you sure on your feet.

We talk a lot about protecting your lungs from wildfire smoke and bad air days, but the water has its own version worth knowing. Carbon monoxide is an inhaled hazard, so every breath near a running engine carries it into your lungs and on into your blood, where it crowds out the oxygen your body runs on. People with asthma or other lung or heart conditions can feel it sooner. The protection is all about the air you breathe: keep fresh air moving, stay clear of the exhaust and swim platform while the engine runs, and let a detector catch what your nose cannot.