[Myssa]

Being born and raised in New Jersey Brady and I have spent almost every summer weekend at the shore with it being one of our favorite places. We are planning on going this year but like a lot of things this year it's a new experience for us but Brady really wants to go ( so do me and the kids). I got Brady a beach wheelcair which should make it a lot easier but I'm looking for any tips you might have found that help you when at the beach.

This post has been edited by Myssa: 04 February 2010 - 09:21 PM

[gordonr]

Myssa, on Feb 4 2010, 09:19 PM, said:

Being born and raised in New Jersey Brady and I have spent almost every summer weekend at the shore with it being one of our favorite places. We are planning on going this year but like a lot of things this year it's a new experience for us but Brady really wants to go ( so do me and the kids). I got Brady a beach wheelcair which should make it a lot easier but I'm looking for any tips you might have found that help you when at the beach.

Myssa,

After much experimentation, I have come to the point where I avoid going out in the sun. I always wear long pants. I will wear a T-shirt, because I have sensation in my arms, but there is no way I am going to expose myself to the chance of an accidental sun-burn on my legs.

When I am in the sun I always wear a hat of some kind. SCI's tend to have temperatue problems. Both overheating and hypothermia The head plays a big factor in both. So keeping the head cool or warm as required is always helpful.

None of this means you can't go to the beach. I enjoy the beach. But I don't really like sand. Sand gets in your clothes. It is harder for us to get dressed and undressed. It is therefore harder for us to control irritants like sand in our clothes. It is also a lot of work getting through sand. Because of that I prefer the boardwalk or the grass just back of the sand line. And I always look for the umbrella or the shade tree.

Yes before my accident I played tennis stripped to the waist in sweltering noon sunshine.

Things change.

Best Regards,

Gordon

[ericr]

Since I live in florida am around the beach and sun 365 days a year. My accident however happened on memorial day and i spent the entire summer in icu so i dont know what extreme heat is like. however i know many people who have spent the past few years in the heat scuba diving and at the beach. they say bring a water bottle/ squirt bottle to cool yourself down so you dont "overheat" depending on your skin type wear normal sun block whatever he wore before or stronger. Stay hidrated outside of that they seem to say its no big deal. My friend actually just came back from scuba diving in key west and says its no different accept you need help getting in the water. If your husband wants to swim bring a noodle or life vest(didnt like that personally)

























'

[DaveP]

Go and explore and create your own habits and routines for the beach. Find out what works for you, him and your kids. It's all about what you can do, not what you can't do.

Once he gets more confidence, he'll want to get in the water and explore what works for him to get in and out of the sea. You don't need anything more than determination and desire to go swimming in the sea.

It's about having fun, for all of you.

If you need help, people will be happy to give a helping hand - that's beach life. Ask people to giv eyou a hand, and they'll hellp with pleasure.

Find the beach you like, and one you can get to and from the car with the least effort. It could be a beach with board-walks or a short distance to be dragged through the sand with help. Pitch up, chill out and enjoy!

If you think you need to bring beach chairs and half the house, then how big a van do you need?! It's not going to the beach - it's a survival exercise!

Chill! Enjoy the beach - relax! Less is more.

[Ches]

I love the beach, its the only place you can accidently piss yourself and people just assume its water!

Ive gotten piggy back rides from the car to a towel on the times the sand was super fine. But then there's been times at low tide that my friends have backed up to the wet, packed sand and Im able to roll around in my chair freely...

Not much is too different, just help him in the water.. getting past the water break is a bitch in those beach chairs...

[Courtney]

I"ll let you know in June. We're going to Hilton Head. However, my husband wasn't much of a water person before.......it's like pulling teeth from a chicken to get him out of his comfort zone but if I have to, I'm going to roll his chair to the edge of the pool and dump his ass in sink or swim...he'll figure it out

[mellowgator]

hi again,

i also live at the beach. i great way to visit the beach is to go to a beach like daytona or saint augustine where you can drive on the beach. if getting in the water is important the beach w-c should get him in the surf and he can dump out and swim to keep cool. our beaches here on the space coast aren't driveable but they have ramped access and you can use the beach w-c there. i also have a beach w-c and it's great. i use a spritzy bottle and swim to stay cool. i also love to dive but usually go on a boat for that.

the first post made me laugh about not liking sand. then again i'm an ex-surfer and all we have in florida is sand.

mellowgator

[pistol_pete]

New beach wheelchair design that was officially unveiled yesterday in Bunbury Western Australia.
The new wheel design is interesting and the whole unit is designed to go underwater.
But like everything else in the disability equipment field you'll have to sell a kidney to afford it.
$5,500 AUD
just thought y'all might be interested



http://www.tadwa.org...eachtrekker.asp

This post has been edited by pistol_pete: 03 March 2010 - 03:06 AM

[E-DOG]

gordonr, on Feb 4 2010, 03:03 PM, said:

Yes before my accident I played tennis stripped to the waist in sweltering noon sunshine.

Things change.

Best Regards,

Gordon

MMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, sweltering.

[E-DOG]

pistol_pete, on Mar 2 2010, 07:02 PM, said:

But like everything else in the disability equipment field you'll have to sell a kidney to afford it.
$5,500 AUD

http://www.tadwa.org...eachtrekker.asp

Which is why we were given TWO kidney's.
Traded one of mine for a nice used Lamborghini back a few years ago. Traded my next door neighbor's for a killer stereo system though he doesn't know that. See, the guy's a very deep sleeper, has a bit of a drinking problem AND he's kinda stupid, so convincing him that during one of his blackouts we used it as collateral for 5 kilos of coke that we fronted to these Cuban dudes who then proceeded to Salsa their way back to Marialetto-land on us coz they were big time buddy's with Fidel n' Che back in the day and la dee da dee dah was easy as hell. He just laughed it off philosophically but I told him "no f*@kin' way dude, we're getting that kidney back! Hell, we may need it again one day!"

E

[pistol_pete]

S'alright for you Dog. My right kidney decided to check out early when I was eight, which kind of reduces my options.
Now if I want to treat myself to ...oh I don't know , another set of tyres or something, I have to fashion a piece of my arse into a passable kidney shape.
Doesn't hurt a bit and noone can notice because I'm a lazy bastard and never get off my arse. Though I am starting to lean to the left. I may have to start on the other cheek when I need to buy a new cushion or some catheters or something.

It's a bummer though because I have to find a new hospital everytime because they wise up to my scam fairly quickly when their patients start turning yellow.

This post has been edited by pistol_pete: 03 March 2010 - 06:22 AM