Sun Safety Tips
With Summer in full swing, many people are taking their adventures to the outdoors. They are enjoying going to the beaches, playing in pools, outdoor sports like volleyball, fishing, kayaking and the like. However, while these are all fun activities do while outside, they do all have one threat that people need to consider. What is this threat? The Sun! Too much sun exposure or not being prepared for sun exposure can have dangerous effects! That is why everyone should be aware of the rules that encourage sun safety!
The Dangers of the Sun
While we all know that if you are out in the sun without protection, you could get a sunburn. However, did you realize that a sunburn can quickly go from a slight annoyance to dangerous in the blink of an eye?
Remember this: a person can be sunburned after 15 minutes out in the sun. However, they are not going to see signs of this for a few hours. What happens if you stay outdoors and sunburn for a few hours? This could lead to sun poisoning! Sun poisoning is a sunburn that includes fever, chills, nausea, and rashes.
It can be extremely painful and cast last for a few weeks for those who are unlucky enough to get this.
Also keep in mind that even though you think of a sunburn as just a reddening of the skin, this can lead to second and third-degree burns which could require hospitalization to clear up!
Another danger of the sun is those dangers that you think of later in life. There are several older people who say that if only they had paid more attention when they were younger or the like. The Sun causes premature aging of the skin, especially for those who lay out in this without protection.
In addition, for those who get frequent sunburns, they are at an increased chance of suffering from Skin Cancer.
Other issues that can happen over time after being exposed to the Sun frequently:
Weakened immune system
Moles can appear on the skin
Eye damage can occur that results in poor vision
Heat stroke is a big risk for those who are going to be out in the Sun. What is heat stroke? A heat stroke happens when there are extreme temperatures outside.
Some of the symptoms of this include:
Feeling dizzy
Passing out
Nausea or vomiting
Headache
Rapid breathing
Your heartbeat is rapid
Extreme thirst
Muscle weakness
Muscle cramping
You may be confused
You may walk, but this is staggered and as though you are clumsy
Heat stroke is a major issue and has led people to become hospitalized due to the symptoms. It often requires hydration and some cooler temps to help cool the body down.
If the person were to pass out, this is cause for alarm as this means that their internal temperature is quickly rising. It is these types of reasons why sun safety should be at the top of the list in terms of your priorities while outside.
Those who are more at risk for heat stroke include younger children, infants, and those elderly people.
There have also been several cases in which teens and pre-teens who are outdoors playing sports have become the victim of this. This is why everyone should be aware of the sun safety rules while outdoors.
5 Tips for After Care for the Sun
Have you been in the sun for too long and suffered a burn? Or maybe you still feel slightly sick from being out in these elements?
If that is the case, there are a few aftercare tips that you can follow to get back on the right track!
Be sure that you are drinking plenty of fluids. The more hydrated you are, the less likely you are suffering to headaches from the sunburn. And for those on the verge of a heat illness, hydration is key to keep these symptoms at bay.
Take a cool shower or bath as this can help to relieve some of the pain from a burn, while also helping you to cool down.
Utilize cooling lotions or aloe vera to help with the pain from the sunburn that you may have.
Taking over the counter medications like ibuprofen can help with swelling and the pain, have been advised that these can cause dehydration, so drink plenty of water.
Rest! Don’t try to go back outdoors after experiencing some heat-related illness. If you do not allow yourself time to recuperate, you are never going to feel like yourself, and you also run the risk of having to go to the hospital for medical assistance related to your sun illness.
Be sure that after you are in the Sun and you have gotten some damage that you are addressing this, rather than simply letting it go. Letting it go, can make these symptoms worse!
6 Ways to Safely Enjoy the Sun
When it comes to sun safety, it is all about prevention of those sun illnesses that you could get.
There are several things that you can do in order to ensure that you are enjoying the Sun, while also being safe while out in the Sun!
Wear sunblock! This cannot be stated enough, always wear sunblock. And for those who are outdoors for long periods of time, be sure to reapply this every few hours, or even sooner for those who have been in the water. Be sure to use at least an SPF 30 for the best protection!
Drink plenty of water! Staying hydrated is a must or you can find yourself suffering from a heat illness that makes you feel miserable.
Do not be in the sun constantly. Even though you may be enjoying the outdoors, be sure that you take breaks and get into the shade or even go into a cooler building. This will allow your body to not become overheated.
Dress for being outside! Tightly woven clothing can protect your body from sun damage. However, you also want to wear light clothing that is going to be cool while staying outdoors in the summer.
Be careful of what time you go out into the sun. Most people find that the worst times to be out are those times between 10 AM and 4 PM, as this is when the Sun is at its highest and can be the most dangerous.
Be sure to wear sunglasses to avoid damage to the eyes due to the rays of the Sun.
When it comes to sun safety, remember that a minute of prevention can save you from a couple of days of pain. Even when you think that you will not be outdoors for very long, still follow these tips to ensure that your day outdoors is one that is successful and not one that is riddled with sun poisoning, or other types of sun illnesses.
The summer is a fun time to be outdoors, but it can be dangerous, be sure that you know what the dangers are and how you can be safe while in the sun for a more enjoyable experience!
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