This National UV Safety Awareness Month, record heat is impacting many locations throughout the United States. As part of the Coalition to Protect America’s Health Care commitment to protecting patient care and advocating for America’s hospitals and hospital systems, CPAH has put together some tips to keep you and your family safe this summer.
Here’s What You Need To Know:
What Are UV Rays: Ultraviolet radiation comes with the sun, and the sun is strongest during the summer months. Sunlight is made up of two harmful rays: UVA rays, which can prematurely age your skin, and UVB rays, which are the primary cause of sunburns.
UV rays are emitted by the sun and artificial sources, including tanning beds. While exposure to UV rays has some benefits for people, including the creation of Vitamin D, it also can increase health risks like skin cancer.
What Are the Risks: Exposure to UV rays can increase health risks and create health issues, including sunburn, heatstroke, and skin cancer. Your local hospital can provide diagnosis, treatment, and preventative measures in case of exposure, but you should be proactive in protecting yourself from the harmful effects of the sun.
How You Can Protect Yourself: It’s important to make a plan to protect your skin and eyes from sun damage! Here are six ways you can protect yourself from UV rays while still enjoying your summer:
- Stay in the shade! When possible, try to stay out of direct sunlight, especially mid-day when the sun is at its strongest.
- Wear clothes to cover your body and protect it from the sun. Consider wearing a rash guard at the beach or in the pool, a wide brim hat to protect your face, or light clothes to make sure your arms and legs are safe from the sun.
- Use sunscreen! The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a broad spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. This will block both UVA and UVB rays, lowering your risk for both premature aging and skin cancer.
- Make sure to reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours. Sunscreen loses effectiveness due to UV absorption and as you sweat or swim.
- Get some sunglasses that are labeled as 100% UV protection. Your eyes are extremely sensitive to the sun, and prolonged UV exposure can increase the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. Getting sunglasses with UV protection helps to mitigate those risks, and protects the delicate skin of your eyelid!
- Avoid indoor tanning beds. While you may be tempted to try to tan for the summer, UV tanning beds can be dangerous. People who indoor tan have a significantly higher risk of developing melanoma.