Can you be on the beach during red tide in Florida?

It is important to realize that many people still enjoy the beaches during red tides. Respiratory irritation and dead fish are not always present . People may experience respiratory irritation (coughing, sneezing, and tearing) when the red tide organism is present along a coast and winds blow its aerosol onshore.



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Don't swim in or around red tide because the toxin can cause skin irritation, rashes, burning and sore eyes. Is it OK to eat shellfish at a restaurant or purchase shellfish from a seafood market during a red tide?

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Florida officials say records of red tide along the state's Gulf of Mexico coast date back to the 1840s. In the Gulf of Mexico, red tide most commonly occurs between August and December, but it can also happen at other times of year, notes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

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A recent University of South Florida model showed that the Tampa Bay area's worst red tide runs from Caladesi Island State Park to Belleair Beach. On Saturday, the southern beaches were mostly clear. The air didn't smell. But some visitors were still feeling the effects of the offshore blooms.

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When is red tide season in Florida? In Florida, red tides begin in late summer or early fall and last through February or March. Two years ago, seven tons of dead fish washed ashore Sarasota beaches due to red tides. Swimmers reported skin infections and people with lung diseases reported trouble breathing.

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“Don't go swimming far out. Stay in close. Stay near people,” Hueter said. Despite Florida being the shark bite capital of the world, the risk is still incredibly low.

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2. Symptoms from breathing red tide toxins usually include coughing, sneezing, and teary eyes. For most people, symptoms are temporary when red tide toxins are in the air. Wearing a particle filter mask may lessen the effects, and research shows that using over-the- counter antihistamines may decrease your symptoms.

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