After a long winter and all those short daylight hours, we welcome the warm, sunny days of spring and summer. People of all ages love to be outside enjoying the fresh air doing a variety of activities.
The Canadian Cancer Society wants us all to stay healthy when it comes to sun exposure. The purpose of National Sun Awareness Week is to remind people that we need to be “sun smart” while enjoying the great outdoors.
Here are some sun safety basics:
Limit time in the midday sun.
- The sun's rays are strongest between 11am and 4pm. Whenever possible, limit exposure to the sun during these hours.
When your shadow is shorter than you, look for shade.
- Do outdoor activities under a tree, umbrella, or in the shade of a building.
- Create shade by planting trees or by using partial roofs, awnings, gazebo tents, etc.
Use the UV index each day to plan outdoor activities.
- Consult local radio and TV stations or check on-line for the UV index forecast in your area. When the UV index is 3 or higher, wear protective clothing, sunglasses and sunscreen.
- Wear tightly-woven, loose-fitting, full-length shirts and pants.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat so that your ears are covered as well.
- Wear sunglasses that provide 100% UVA and UVB protection and ensure they wrap around your face.
- Apply a generous amount of sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) on all exposed areas 20 minutes before you go outside. Ideally, sunscreen should be reapplied 20 minutes after going outdoors so that the product stabilizes on the skin and gives maximum protection. Thereafter, reapply sunscreen every 2 hours (and more often if you are swimming or sweating).
- Do not put sunscreen on babies less than 6 months of age.
- Consult local radio and TV stations or check on-line for the UV index forecast in your area. When the UV index is 3 or higher, wear protective clothing, sunglasses and sunscreen.
- Wear tightly-woven, loose-fitting, full-length shirts and pants.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat so that your ears are covered as well.
- Apply a generous amount of sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) on all exposed areas 20 minutes before you go outside. Ideally, sunscreen should be reapplied 20 minutes after going outdoors so that the product stabilizes on the skin and gives maximum protection. Thereafter, reapply sunscreen every 2 hours (and more often if you are swimming or sweating).
- Do not put sunscreen on babies less than 6 months of age.
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