Don’t Forget Your Sunscreen!

It’s August and the sun is still scorching. If you’re heading outside, don’t forget the sunscreen!

Water Safety Includes Sun Safety

At Pool Fence DIY, we pride ourselves on helping to prevent drowning danger. We’ve written many stories about how to keep both adults and little ones safe near the water. That said, most of us like to swim when it is hot outside. After all, nothing beats cooling off in the pool on a boiling hot summer day… just remember not to use the pool as a substitute for bathing.

Unfortunately, that fun in the sun also comes with some potential health risks. A sunburn can be rather painful, but it can also cause lasting damage. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the sun’s ultraviolet, or UV, rays can cause skin damage in as little as 15 minutes. As you can probably imagine, it’s important to never forget to use sunscreen.

All sunscreen has an SPF number. SPF stands for sun protection factor. Basically, this measurement gives you a general idea of how long a particular sunscreen is designed to protect you from UV rays. For safety’s sake, you should always choose a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.

How To Use Sunscreen:

• Apply sunscreen generously. Don’t be stingy! Make absolutely sure that the sunscreen fully covers any and all of your exposed skin. Don’t forget your neck, ears and face. When possible, ask for help. Having a friend or family member help you to apply your sunscreen makes it less likely that you won’t miss any hard-to-reach areas, such as your back!
• Clouds won’t protect you. It may be a cloudy day, but don’t drop your guard. Just because it’s a little bit darker doesn’t mean you’re safe from the sun’s UV rays. Those rays pass right through the clouds, so don’t skimp on the sunscreen.
• Check the expiration date. Believe it or not, sunscreen can expire. As you can probably guess, being past the expiration date can really lower a sunscreen’s effectiveness. Always double-check the label before heading outside.
• Apply and Reapply. Once you’ve applied sunscreen, don’t make the mistake of thinking you are done for the day. The truth is, sunscreen wears off over time. To be safe, reapply once every two hours. That will give you maximum coverage.

Too Hot To Handle: Kids Have More Delicate Skin

When it comes to sunburns, kids should be extra careful. Their skin tends to be more delicate than adults’ skin.  This can easily lead to harsher burns. Also, let’s face it, kids often tend to be less responsible than adults. They’ll often neglect their own wellbeing to stay in the blazing hot sun for hours on end. For a child’s sensitive skin, this can quickly lead to a disaster. To make matters worse, children who get several sunburns at a young age are more likely to get skin cancer as adults.

Be sure that your child is staying hydrated and taking breaks. They should also avoid extended exposure to the sun’s rays between the peak hours of 10am-2pm. Summer safety is important for everyone, and by using sunscreen and limiting exposure, you’ll greatly reduce your risk of danger.

On a final note, if your child is under six months old, using sunscreen is not recommended. A baby’s skin is far too delicate for harsh lotions to be used. For the little one’s safety, keep them out of the sun and in the shade as much as possible. After a while, bring them indoors.