Most of us can think of no better way to spend the summer than getting paid to hang out at the beach, soak up the sun, and spend countless hours outside. Whether you get a waitressing gig at a beachside caf or become a lifeguard for a summer, it is important that you do all you can to take care of your hearing and makes sure that you don't sustain any damage. The different elements involved in being at the beach, from the sand to the water, to the wind require you to take extra care and preventative measures.

If you are a lifeguard, it is imperative that you wear ear plugs when going into the ocean. While it may seem counterintuitive since the nature of your job is to listen for people that need assistance, there are special surfing ear plugs that are designed to protect you from water entering your ears but still afford you the ability to hear. Being in the water all day can really take a toll on your hearing as it is difficult to drain the water buildup. Also, because you are stepping in and out of the water, the wind blowing can lead to an ear infection so you must take care to dry out your ears and make sure that you always wear ear plugs.

If you are a waitress and don't go into the ocean very often, you must still take extra care of your ears and protect your hearing as you are in a very windy, sandy environment. Make sure to wear a sweater or jacket with a hood on your way to work and never step out with wet hair as the moisture in your ears coupled with the draft of the wind can lead to an infection and if you are not careful, to hearing loss. The beach is a wonderful place to spend the summer but it also has a lot of unique elements that can be detrimental to your hearing if you don't take care of yourself properly. Luckily, you don't have to make too many drastic changes to your lifestyle and you can spend your summer at the beach relaxing, and able to spend time with friends rather than worry about the status of your hearing.