Before you take off for our state's parks and lakes, consider these sun safety tips. (Courtesy: Jose Hernandez, Canva)
Have you been spending lots of time in the sun this summer? My family spends a lot of time outside camping and on the lake. At the end of the night, we all have about 3 to 4 layers of sunscreen to wash off. Outdoor play is essential for all age levels but before you take off for the parks and lakes here are sun safety tips.
Sun Safety Tips
- Try to avoid the sun’s peak hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and seek shade if your shadow is shorter than you.
- Select a sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher and apply 15 to 30 minutes before going outside, even on cloudy days.
- Reapply every 2 hours and especially after swimming.
- Wear hats, lightweight clothing, and sunglasses with 100% UV protection.
- Drink lots of water and avoid sugary products (such as pop and energy drinks) that do not have as much nutritional value and will not help regulate your temperature as fast.
Sun exposure is especially helpful to get our skin to produce Vitamin D. Roughly10 to 15 minutes of sun a day a few times a week will help keep the Vitamin D flowing. Be a good sun safety role model, follow the tips above, and kids will learn by example and have a fun and healthy summer in the sun.
