Stay Out of the Sun Day

Protect Yourself From The Sun All Summer Long

Today is “Stay Out of the Sun Day” and we’d like to use it to remind you about Sun safety this summer. There are a lot of great ways to stay cool inside or the in the shade and keep your skin healthy and burn-free.

We’ve put together some great tips for you to stay safe this summer. Since many of our great state’s residents are seniors, we want everyone to take precautions and make sure others are okay. Some of the best safety tips for beating the heat are:

• Stay hydrated: In the summer, aim to drink at least 6 glasses of water or other hydrating fluids each day. Sodas and alcoholic beverages will dehydrate you, so avoid them if you’re outside. It’s especially important for seniors to drink water since the feeling of thirst usually declines with age.
• Wear sunscreen: The Sun can harm your skin with both UVA and UVB rays, so make sure your sunscreen blocks both. Use a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and apply it around an hour before you go outside. Reapply every two hours.
• Pick light clothes: When you can, wear loose and lightweight clothes to protect yourself. Sunglasses and hats should complete your outfit and help give you a rounded level of protection. Today’s sunglasses often have lenses that can block UVA and UVB rays. These protections can give you long-term protections against cataracts and other eye concerns.
• Avoid the mid-day sunshine: In Florida, the Sun is strongest between 11 am and 4 pm, a perfect time to get back inside and have a great lunch of a summer nap. If you have to be outside during these hot times, limit your outdoor activity and stick to the shade.
• Turn on your AC: We all like saving money, but keeping your AC off during the summer isn’t a safe method. Heat stroke and other dangers can happen inside your home if you get too hot. When a heat wave strikes, turn on the air conditioning and keep it on all day. If you don’t have a working AC, spend the day in a location that has the AC on, such as a library, mall, senior center or friend’s home.
• Crank up the radio or TV: When the summer comes and the heat rises, you should start your day with a little TV or radio time. You’ll want to stay up-to-date on the day’s weather advisories, especially high-temperature alerts. When these alerts are issued, make sure to plan your day appropriately. By checking early in the morning, you give yourself enough time to get to a cool location before it heats up outside.

As you’re enjoying the day, be sure to watch out for signs of heat stroke or other top heat disorders. For older Americans, these symptoms can also include confusion, disorientation, a rapid pulse and being excessively tired.