Many students find themselves spending a significant amount of time on or near open water.
Although the sea can be beautiful, it is unforgiving when there is an accident or other serious mishap. The risks students face can be minimized if they know what questions to ask, what conditions to watch for, and what supplies and provisions to take when traveling in a boat or canoe. Not only is the sun very strong in many countries, but the sun and the heat often associated with it are magnified on or near the water. Those students who study near the water and those who have to travel in boats or canoes should be especially careful to protect their eyes from sunlight and their skin from sunburn. They should also drink plenty of water or other non-alcoholic fluids to allow proper perspiration and subsequent evaporation, which aids in cooling the body and preventing heat syndromes.