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UV Safety: Staying Safe in the Sun!
July 17, 2023 at 04:06 PM EDT
By WeatherBug Meteorologist, Christian Sayles
We’re in the heat of the summer and the sun's rays are packing on the sizzling temperatures. What’s sizzling? Your skin if you aren’t careful!
The following are several things you can do to stay safe while hanging outside this summer:
The following are several things you can do to stay safe while hanging outside this summer:
- Avoid intentionally tanning outside. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays produced from the sun can lead to skin cancer and/or premature skin aging.
- Try to remain under shaded areas while outdoors. The best time to hide from harmful UV rays is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. local time. This is when the sun’s angle is at its peak.
- Splurge on sunscreen! Making sure you have sunscreen that protects against ultraviolent A (UVA) and ultraviolent B (UVB) rays is a necessity. Sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or higher should be applied 15 minutes before going outside and should be reapplied every two hours.
- First line of defense: wearing proper clothing! Make sure to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants and a wide-brimmed hat paired with UV-blocking sunglasses. Taking it a step further, try to wear bright colors to reflect the sun’s rays to stay cool.
- Take caution while at the beach! Surfaces such as sand and water can reflect sun rays which can lead to sunburn not readily seen or felt.
- Check on the UV index frequently. The higher the UV index, the more precautions should be taken. The UV indices can be as low as 0 (no protection needed) but can exceed 8 (extra protection needed).
- Don’t rely on the sun for vitamin D. Yes, the sun can help to produce vitamin D in your body but overexposure to the sun’s rays can actually be detrimental to skin cells and lead to skin cancers. It’s best to get a daily dose of vitamin D through food and supplements.
- Protect those that can’t protect themselves! Children, the elderly and those with special needs may need special attention or be more sensitive to the sun’s rays. Babies younger than 6 months should not be in direct sunlight but should wear hats and protective clothing while outdoors.
Make sure to check the WeatherBug app frequently this summer so you can stay up to date on your latest conditions before heading outdoors!
Source(s): Environmental Protection Agency, National Weather Service
(Image provided by Pixabay.com)