Tips for Sun Safety originally appeared on Adore Them

Tips for Sun Safety

Please Note: We are not medical professionals, and you should always seek professional help for any concerns. We encourage you to use these resources as a starting point and then do more research on any of your particular concerns.

Summer is such a fun time of year! Families spend more and more time outdoors and going on adventures, which is awesome; but we are well-aware by now that we need to keep sun safety top of mind as well.

We all know that we need to apply sunscreen to ourselves and our children before heading out into the sun, but what exactly do we need to do to prevent skin damage and protect ourselves against skin cancer?

According to the CDC, “the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes,” which is way faster than you might have thought! You can seek out shade while you are outside, but it is safer to use sunscreen and/or protective clothing while you’re outside since shade does not always offer complete protection.

Sunscreen

You can get sun damage even on cloudy or cool days so it is recommended that you always put on sunscreen of at least SPF 15 before going outside.

Sunscreen Reminders:

• An even, thick layer is key to maintaining protection so try your best to apply well.

• Higher numbers of SPF indicate more protection, but you should at least use SPF 15.

• Sunscreen wears off with swimming, sweating, toweling off, or even just the passage of time. Reapply every two hours or after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.

• Sunscreen expires! Most sunscreens list an expiration date, and if it doesn’t, it still won’t last more than three years. High temperatures can also affect your sunscreen and how well it protects you, so it is a good idea to simply buy a fresh batch of sunscreen each year.

• Some makeup, moisturizers, lotions, lip balms, etc have SPF protection; however, if that SPF level is less than 15, you still need something else.

Clothing

Interestingly enough, clothes offer a wide variety of protection and aren’t always reliable on their own. For example, your standard t shirt actually has an SPF rating of less than 15! Other factors also contribute to how protective your clothing may be such as…

• Tightly woven fabrics offer better protection

• Dry clothes are better than wet ones

• Darker colors are better than light ones

Normal clothes and coverups are fine if you are also wearing sunscreen, but you can also buy protective clothing meant to specifically block UV rays. Sunglasses and hats are also a great way to protect yourself from the sun and still have a great time!

Heat Related Illnesses

Keep in mind that children under four years old are at a higher risk for heat related illnesses, but even adults can suffer from the same things if they overdo it in hot weather!

Prevention Strategies:

• Never, ever leave children in a parked car (even if the windows are open).

• Dress children in lightweight, loose, and light-colored clothing.

• Avoid the heat of the day by doing outdoor activities in the morning or evening hours.

• Cool off with cool showers or baths (think pool temperature water)

Symptoms of Heat Related Illnesses:

• Heat Exhaustion

  • Heavy Sweating

  • Muscle Cramps

  • Weakness

  • Cold, pale, clammy skin

  • Fast, weak pulse

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Fainting

• Heat Stroke

  • High body temperature (above 103 F)

  • Hot, red, dry or moist skin

  • Rapid and strong pulse

  • Possible unconsciousness

Be sure to seek out help promptly if you or your children are exhibiting any of these symptoms. And always check with your doctor with any questions!

Make the most of your summer while also thinking of your family’s future. Protecting yourself from the sun is such a simple way to prevent many scary issues down the road!

Expert parenting advice and resources from Adore Them