Top 5 Sun Safety Tips for Summer

child on a walk

ALTUS SAFETY TIPS

How to Enjoy Fun in the Sun Safely! Top Five Sun Safety Tips for Summer

We’re kicking off National Sun Safety Week, with our Top Five Sun Safety Tips for summer, brought to you by Altus Emergency Centers. These few simple tips will safeguard you from the consequences of overexposure to the sun. Adverse effects such as sunburns, eye damage, premature aging of the skin, wrinkles, and skin cancer are completely preventable by following our Top Five Sun Safety Tips.

It is important to point out that sunburns are not exclusive to summer time; water, snow and sand reflect the sun’s UV rays which can cause sunburns and increase the risk of skin cancer. Whenever possible, avoid being in direct sunlight between the hours of 10:00am and 4:00 pm daylight savings time or 9:00 am to 3:00 pm standard time. The following are the Top Five Sun Safety Tips, brought to you by Altus Emergency Center:

Sun Safety Tip #1

woman squeezing sunscreen bottle

Wear Sunscreen

The secret to protecting your skin from damaging UV rays, is to choose the right type of sunscreen.

  • Choose sunscreens that have SPF of 30 or higher which filters 97% of UVB rays.

  • Use broad-spectrum sunscreen, which protect you from both UVB rays, are responsible for sunburns and UVA rays which can cause skin cancer and premature aging.

  • Keep in mind that no sunscreen is water proof, those whose label says water resistant, will only last between 40 and 80 minutes while swimming.

  • Insect repellent is known to reduce sunscreen’s SPF by 1/3, if you need to combine them, choose a sunscreen with a higher SPF and reapply your sunscreen often.

Sun Safety Tip #2

woman and child in field

Protect Your Skin with Clothing

If you are going to be outdoors, it is advisable to wear clothing to cover your skin. Long sleeve t-shirts, long pants, and skirts, in dark colors with a tightly woven fabric offer the most protection.

We realize this may not be the most convenient attire for summer, but even wearing a t-shirt or beach coverup will help. There are special fabrics that are light weight and offer adequate protection from UV rays, try to add these fabrics to your wardrobe.

Sun Safety Tip #3

couple wearing hats and sunglasses

Protect Your Eyes

Research has shown that prolonged exposure to the sun and UV rays significantly increases the chances of developing certain eye diseases, not to mention the sun can damage the delicate skin surrounding the eye causing premature wrinkles.

Protect your eyes by:

  • Wearing a wide brim hat, this will also protect your face and neck.

  • Wear sunglasses that block UV rays.

  • Choose sunglasses with lenses that block 99% to 100% of both UVB and UVA rays.

  • Read the label before you purchase your shades. Labels with, “UV Absorption Up To 400nm” or, “Meets ANSI UV Requirements” mean they block at least 99% of UV rays. The ones who say “Cosmetic” only block about 70% of UV rays and not recommended. Do not buy sunglasses that do not have a label.

  • Large-frame or wraparound glasses offer better protection as they will block UV rays coming from different angles.

Sun Safety Tip #4

backyard porch

Seek the Shade

Whenever possible, choose to be in the shade, especially during midday hours. You can sit under an umbrella, tree or covered area away from the reflection of water or sand during these hours to avoid being sunburned. Remember UV rays reach the ground even when the day is cloudy, or the weather is cold.

If you plan to be outdoors, check your local newspaper, weather service, or visit the EPA website to check the UV index in your area.

Sun Safety Tip #5

group of children outside

Protect Children from the Sun

It is vital to adhere to our Sun Safety Tips in order to take care of the little ones. Children can get sunburned more easily simply because most tend to spend more time outdoors. As a result, they run an increased risk of being affected by UV rays.

  • Schedule their outdoor activities as early as possible, and try to come up with creative ways to have them play under the shade during peak hours.

  • Do your best to use protective clothing on your child.

  • Teach them the benefits of using sunscreen from an early age, and create the habit of reapplying it often.

  • Infants under the age of 6 months should be kept out of direct sunlight, and should be protected from the sun with hats, the use of sunscreen on infants is not recommended.

Take Care of Yourself and Your Loved Ones.

We’re Here for You. Each & Every Day. 24/7

Follow our Top Five Sun Safety Tips for Summer and Enjoy! Happy National Sun Safety Week from all of us at Altus Emergency Centers!

At Altus ER Centers, we wish you a fun and safe summer. Should you experience any adverse effects of sun exposure, like heat stroke, severe sunburn, or dehydration, head to our nearest Altus Emergency Center for treatment.

Altus Emergency Centers

We offer the best freestanding 24 hour ER services in Texas. We have top of the line medical technology and highly experienced ER healthcare experts prepped and ready to come to your aid in Baytown, Lake Jackson, Lufkin, Lumberton and Waxahachie.

Each ER team is highly efficient in treating chest and abdominal pains, pediatric emergencies, flu symptoms, sports injuries, bone breaks and fractures, as well as all other major and minor injuries. All services are available 24/7, including weekends and holidays with little to no wait times.

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