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Staying safe outdoors on the Nature Coast: heat, lightning, gators, snakes, the beach, and boating

Heat, afternoon lightning, alligators, snakes, stingrays, and rip currents are all part of being outside in Citrus, Hernando and Pasco. This page covers what each one looks like, what to do, and who to call.

Checked against the National Weather Service (NWS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and the other sources listed at the bottom. Last reviewed: October 4, 2026.

The short version:

Heat and staying hydrated

Is it harder to tolerate heat as you age?

Yes. The CDC's page on heat and adults 65 and older says older adults "do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature."

The CDC gives two more reasons. Older adults are more likely to have a long-term health condition that changes how the body handles heat. They're also more likely to take prescription medicines that affect how the body controls its temperature or sweats.

What the CDC suggests you do:

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke: the warning signs

The NWS lists the signs on its heat illness page.

Heat exhaustion can look like heavy sweating, weakness, cool and clammy skin, a fast weak pulse, cramps, dizziness, nausea, headache, or fainting. Move to a cooler place, loosen clothing, use cool wet cloths, and sip water. Get medical help right away if the person throws up, gets worse, or still has symptoms after an hour.

Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Signs include confusion, slurred speech, a throbbing headache, a body temperature above 103°F, hot red skin, or passing out. Call 911. While you wait, move the person somewhere cooler and cool them with wet cloths. The NWS says not to give fluids to someone with heat stroke.

Heat advisories for our area

The NWS office for the Tampa Bay area, in Ruskin, covers Citrus, Hernando and Pasco. Its alerts are on the NWS Tampa Bay page.

A heat advisory means dangerous heat is expected, but not at the level of a warning. The NWS heat alert page says to think about moving outdoor plans away from the heat of the day, drink plenty of water, and rest in the shade. An extreme heat warning is the more serious alert. Then the advice is to avoid outdoor activities, especially in the heat of the day.

Lightning

Florida gets a lot of lightning. The Florida Division of Emergency Management's lightning safety sheet says no other state gets more lightning strikes per square mile.

The NWS's rule is short: "When thunder roars, go indoors." Its lightning safety overview says that if you can hear thunder, you're likely close enough to be struck. It also says there is no safe place outside when thunderstorms are in the area.

What is the 30/30 rule for lightning?

The NWS lightning pages we checked don't use that name, but they do give the 30-minute part. Wait 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder before you go back outside.

For deciding when to go in, the NWS doesn't ask you to count. If you hear thunder, head inside then. Lightning can strike well outside the rain. The NWS lightning myths page says lightning often strikes more than three miles from the center of the storm.

What is the safest place to be when lightning strikes?

Inside a substantial building or a hard-topped vehicle. The NWS says rain shelters, small sheds, and open vehicles are not safe. Its outdoor lightning page says not to shelter under beach picnic shelters, and that a tent gives no protection.

Once you're inside a house, stay off corded phones and away from plumbing, outside doors, and windows. Cell phones and cordless phones are safe to use.

On the water, the NWS says most lightning deaths and injuries on boats happen on small boats with no cabin.

If someone is struck, call 911. The NWS says lightning victims don't carry an electrical charge and are safe to touch. Start CPR, or use an AED (automated external defibrillator, a device that shocks the heart), if needed.

Alligators

Alligators live in all 67 Florida counties, in marshes, swamps, rivers, and lakes. FWC's living with alligators page says serious injuries from alligators are rare in Florida.

Can you swim in a lake with gators?

FWC's advice is to swim only in designated swimming areas, and only during daylight. Its alligator brochure says alligators are most active between dusk and dawn.

FWC also says to:

If an alligator concerns you, call FWC's Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4286 (866-FWC-GATOR). FWC sends a contracted trapper. To report someone feeding an alligator, call FWC's Wildlife Alert line at 888-404-3922. You can stay anonymous.

Snakes, and what to do if one bites you

Most snakes you'll see are harmless. FWC's snake page says only six of Florida's 50 snake species are venomous: the eastern coral snake, southern copperhead, cottonmouth, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake, and dusky pygmy rattlesnake.

FWC says snakes usually bite only when they're bothered or stepped on. Leave any snake you see alone and give it room.

If a venomous snake may have bitten you, get emergency care right away. Call 911. The CDC's venomous snake page says to stay calm, take off rings and watches before swelling starts, wash the bite with soap and water, and cover it with a clean, dry dressing.

The CDC also lists what not to do. Don't use a tourniquet, cut the wound, try to suck out the venom, or put ice on it. Don't wait for symptoms to show up.

For any bite or sting, you can also call Florida Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. The call is free and confidential, any hour of the day.

At the beach

What is a stingray shuffle?

It's sliding your feet along the sand as you wade, instead of taking steps. FWC's Atlantic stingray page recommends it to lower your chance of stepping on a ray. FWC says stingrays aren't aggressive, but they have a venomous barb near the base of the tail that they use to defend themselves.

The shuffle lets the stingray know you're there so it can move. A University of Florida extension agent's stingray shuffle article says stingrays will usually go the other way when they notice you shuffling. If you are stung, call Florida Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 if the person is in serious trouble.

Are there rip currents in the Gulf?

Yes. NOAA's rip current page says they're common along the East, Gulf, and West coasts. A rip current is a narrow channel of fast water pulling away from shore. It can move up to eight feet per second.

If one catches you, don't fight it. NOAA says to swim parallel to the shore, then swim back to land at an angle. If you can't get out, float or tread water and call or wave for help.

Look at the beach flags before you go in. The NWS Tallahassee office's rip current sheet explains them:

Florida's beach warning flag program uses the same flags at every public beach that flies them, with signs nearby explaining each color. The state says the flags warn about overall surf conditions and don't specifically mark rip currents. Ask a lifeguard if one is on duty.

Boating, kayaking, and life jackets

Can I drive a boat in Florida without a license?

Yes. Florida has no boating license. What Florida has is a Boating Safety Education ID Card, and FWC's ID card page says plainly that "this card is not a boating license."

You need the card if you were born on or after January 1, 1988, and you're running a boat with an engine of 10 horsepower or more. You get it by passing an approved boating safety course. The card doesn't expire.

Even if you don't need the card, a course can be a good refresher. FWC's list of approved courses includes a free online course from the BoatUS Foundation.

At what age do you not need a boaters license in Florida?

Florida goes by birth date, not age. If you were born before January 1, 1988, you don't need the boating education card. That covers anyone 60 or older today.

If you hand the wheel to a younger family member, check their birth date. Someone born in 1988 or later needs the card to run a boat with 10 horsepower or more.

Life jackets and safety gear

FWC's boating regulations require a wearable, Coast Guard-approved life jacket on board for each person. It has to fit the person, be in good shape, and be easy to reach. A child under 6 must wear one on a boat under 26 feet while it's moving. The state urges everyone on board to wear one.

FWC's boating safety tips say half of all boating deaths are from drowning. Kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards need a life jacket for each person too, plus a bell, horn, or whistle, and a white light if you're out between sunset and sunrise. FWC's paddling rules say to always wear your life jacket when paddling.

Tell someone your plan

Before you head out on the water, let family or a friend know where you're going and when you expect to be back. FWC calls this a float plan and has a free float plan form you can print and fill in.

FWC also says weather on the water can change fast. Check the forecast before you go, and keep an eye on the sky while you're out. If you live alone, a daily check-in call or a medical alert device can help on land too.

Hurricane season

Storms are a different kind of outdoor risk. Our hurricane preparation guide covers getting ready for storm season.

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