Be Safe in the Sun
Summer is here and it is hot, so the key is protection. The U.S. Department of Health Services has declared July is UV Safety Month where the goal is to spread the word about how important it is to protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays.
This month is to remind people of all ages to protect their skin and eyes form the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In the U.S., skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. UV radiation is the main cause of skin cancer and can also cause eye damage and vision loss, particularly in seniors. Today, there is widespread support for UV safety and this month especially aims to educate individuals on how to protect themselves from overexposure to the sun.
WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR SKIN AND EYES FROM GRAMAGING UV RADIATION:
- Prior to enjoying the outdoors, apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 20 or higher to all exposed skin.
- Reapply sunscreen every two hours after swimming or sweating
- Wear protective clothing, as well as a broad-brimmed hat that covers the face, ears, and neck
- Wear sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of UV rays and wrap around to protect eyes from every angle
- Limit time in the sun, especially during the hours of 12:00PM to 4:00PM, when the sun’s rays are most intense
- Be cautious around reflectors of sunlight, such as water, snow, sand and cement.
THE DANGER OF UV EXPOSURE:
- You can sunburn even on a cloudy day
- On average, children get 3 times more exposure than adults
- Concrete, san, water, and snow reflect 85% to 90% of the sun’s UV rays
- Depletion of Earth’s ozone continues to increase your exposure to UV rays
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