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A warm day at the beach can be great for your health. Vitamin D from the sun can improve your blood pressure, according to one new study. Swimming and walking in the sand is great exercise. Plus, a day of relaxation can soothe stress levels and boost your mood.

But certain myths and misunderstandings about your health in summer weather can be harmful. Here, learn which pieces of popular summer advice are just myths, and how you can stay safe and healthy all summer long.

NEXT: What to do when a jellyfish stings.

Myth: Peeing on jellyfish stings takes away the pain.

Fact: Urban legend has it that urinating on a jellyfish sting can treat the pain, fast. But the science actually says that dosing stung skin with vinegar is a more effective treatment. Isopropyl alcohol or seawater will also work if there’s no vinegar handy, according to the Red Cross.

Jellyfish stings vary greatly in their severity, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some can result in cardiac arrest – requiring CPR – while contact with the ultra-venomous box jellyfish, for example, requires swift medical attention and an immediate shot of antivenin to prevent serious complications or death.

NEXT: When you’re NOT safe from sunburn.

Myth: You can’t sunburn on a cloudy day.

Fact: You risk sunburn whenever your outdoors, even on cloudy days, or during the winter months when the sun is not as strong. To prevent sunburn, the American Academy of Dermatology suggests wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day, seeking shade whenever possible and covering skin with protective clothing.

More sun safety tips: Watch out for sunscreens that claim to be “waterproof” – it’s a false claim the FDA considers to be misleading. The FDA is also pushing for a ban against SPF ratings above 50; experts have long believed that SPF ratings above 50 are no more effective, giving users a false sense of security.

NEXT: What WON’T stop sunburn.

Myth: Base tans prevent sunburn.

Fact: Half of people still believe that base tans can prevent sunburns, according to a survey from the American Academy of Dermatology. But any type of tan is a sign of damage from UV radiation. This accumulated damage accelerates signs of aging and raises a person’s risk for all type of skin cancer, according to the AAD.

But regular sunscreen use can not only prevent skin cancer, but also prevent wrinkles and other premature signs of aging, according to a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

NEXT: How heat can be harmful.

Myth: Heat can’t hurt.

Fact: Summer is all about fun in the sun, but overheating can be life-threatening – particularly for children and seniors.

Last summer, 32 people died in just two weeks because of sweltering heat following severe thunderstorms, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a new Morbidity and Mortality Report.

This rash of heat-related deaths – not to mention the 626 additional heat deaths that occur, on average, every year – highlight the need for life-saving heat safety practices. Especially because the vast majority of heat-related deaths are preventable, the CDC warned in the new report.

This summer is not forecasted to be quite as warm, according to Jeff Masters, the director of meteorology for Weather Underground. But monitoring your health during extreme heat is still essential.

NEXT: The truth about warm-weather exercise.

Myth: You burn more calories when it’s hot.

Fact: Working out in moderately warm temperatures might be best for burning fat, according to two studies of cyclist and the American Council on Exercise. But there’s no caloric benefit to sweating it out in extreme heat. Plus, because it’s harder for most people to workout in hot weather, you might be tempted to cut your sweat session short, limiting your calorie burn.

For a safe and effective summer workout, time outdoor exercise to be in the cool early morning or after 4 p.m., when the sun is no longer at its strongest.

NEXT: A potentially deadly backyard mistake.

Myth: Grilling is always a healthy way to cook.

Fact: Grilled food can be great for your health – especially because it can slash the amount of calorie-heavy oil in your home cooking. But if you overdo it, you could be putting yourself at risk for type 2 diabetes and even cancer, as charring foods can release carcinogenic compounds. Recently, a University of Illinois study found evidence that cooking methods using high temperatures, like grilling, frying, and broiling, are particularly risky because they produce “advanced glycation end products,” or AGEs, harmful compounds that may play a role in the development of diabetes.

The same study found that grilled fruits and vegetables don’t develop these potentially dangerous compounds when grilled.

NEXT: What to do around the pool.

Myth: Hopping on one foot dislodges water from your ear.

Fact: This doesn’t work because your inner ear is curved, Michael Seidman, MD, told MensHealth.com . Instead, you should tilt your head, placing the tip of your index finger in the cuplike spot at the bottom of your ear. Then pinch your ear and firmly wiggle it to dislodge any water.

NEXT: The truth about air conditioning and your health.

Myth: Air conditioning can make you sick. (Comstock Images)

Fact: Just like cold weather can’t give you a cold, time spent in a central air conditioning system can’t make you sick, either. You have to be exposed to an actual cold or flu virus to become ill. Forgetting to change your air conditioner’s filter, however, can hurt your health, as it can worsen dust and mold allergies.