It’s July! Summer has finally come and it really brought the heat this year. As you and your family spend time under the sun, it’s the perfect time to get informed on UV Safety Awareness. The sun’s harmful UV rays are becoming stronger each year. With this article, you will learn how to protect yourself and enjoy the outdoors safely every day this summer.
Ultraviolet rays are invisible radiation waves that originate from the sun, sunlamps, and even tanning beds. The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention states that many people apply sunscreen to only cover 50% of the recommended amount.
Below will help you to understand the dangers of UV rays. According to Fort Healthcare:
- UV-A rays have stronger and longer wavelengths that damage the middle layers of your skin
- UV-B rays have shorter wavelengths that can reach and damage your outer layers of skin
As well as protecting your skin, protecting your eyes is not talked about enough when it comes to the sun. Exposure to sunlight increases the risk of developing macular degeneration and can lead to various growths resulting in eye cancer. Your eyes are constantly at risk due to UV rays, which is why we encourage wearing proper protection for your health.
These are the effects of unprotected sun exposure:
- Cataracts
- Vision loss
- Eye cancer
- Skin cancer
- Early aging of your skin
- Slowing down of the immune system
Although this all may sound frightening, here are some tips to protect you and your family from the sun’s harmful rays:.
Protect your skin
- By shielding your face you can decrease exposure to harmful UV rays. This is achievable by wearing a cap, hat, or more clothing to shade your skin.
- Staying in the shade will also help to protect your skin. The most harmful time to be outside is between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Wearing the correct protection level of sunscreen is essential to save your skin. The FDA recommends that your everyday sunscreen should have an SPF of at least 15 to shield from UV-A and UV-B rays.
- Applying the proper amount of sunscreen is also necessary for the protection of your skin. Using a waterproof sunscreen or reapplying sunscreen while in the water every two hours is important.
Protecting your eyes
- When buying sunglasses, buy a pair that will block out UV rays. The darkness and color of the glasses is irrelevant to the protection of the lenses, so be wise when choosing. Make sure your lenses have 100% UV protection
- Find full coverage sunglasses that wrap to the face to prevent the sun from coming through the sides
- Don’t allow the clouds to stop you from wearing your sunglasses. The harmful UV rays continue to cause damage to your eyes as they still pass through the clouds
- Never look directly into the sun to prevent solar retinopathy and damage to the eye’s retina from solar radiation
This July highlights UV Safety Awareness Month and with the proper precautions, you can enjoy your summer safe and stress-free!
