Sun Safety
A day at the beach shouldn't bring back bad memories of painful sunburn and heat stroke. If you follow sun safety practices, you should be safe in the sun. And sun safety is more than protecting yourself from getting sunburned. Too much sun exposure puts you at higher risk for getting skin cancer, and if it's really hot and you don't keep yourself hydrated, you run the risk of heat stroke.
Sun Safety at the Beach or Pool
You probably already know the number one rule for sun safety --apply sunscreen. But many of us miss areas during application or don't apply it often enough. Keep these things in mind the next time you apply sunscreen:
- You can buy sunscreen that's waterproof and sweatproof, but these usually only protect you for 80 minutes in the water. That means you can be in the water for an hour and 20 minutes and not risk getting burned. But most people think that it means that even if you jump in the pool or ocean and get out, the sunscreen is still working. It might, but why risk it? Reapply the sunscreen when you get out of the water, and make sure you reapply to dry skin, not while your skin is still wet.
- Buy sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. This is often referred to as "broad spectrum." Also, look for titanium dioxide as an ingredient.
- Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before you're going to be exposed to the sun, not when you get to the pool or the beach.
- Reapply sunscreen after being in the sun for 2-3 hours.
- Be sure to apply sunscreen to areas you may have forgotten like your ears, for example. You can also buy eye creams that contain sunscreen, and sunscreen for your face.
- Wear sunglasses to protect your corneas from getting burned. (Seriously--it can happen!) Wearing sunglasses also protects the skin around your eyes from getting burned.
In addition to these tips about sunscreen, remember that it's best to avoid the sun when it's at its peak, which is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Whenever possible, wear long sleeves, pants and hats. If it's too hot for that, you can always use an umbrella to shield yourself from the sun.
Another important thing to remember when it comes to sun safety is to keep yourself hydrated. It doesn't matter if you're enjoying a day at the beach or the pool or if you're working or playing in the heat, you need to drink plenty of water. Otherwise, you could get heat stroke. Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, fainting, vomiting and confusion.
Sun safety really isn't a hard concept to grasp. Just take the time to adequately prepare for sun exposure and you should have a safe and enjoyable time in the sun.
All material copyright © 2008 Outdoor Safety USA. All rights reserved.
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