The smell of hot dogs and hamburgers sizzling on the grill. The feeling of soft sand between your toes. And that unmistakable feeling of sunshine warming your face. Yes, summer is upon us.
And of course, while you’re soaking up all that vitamin D you also want to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful UV rays. But there’s more to keeping your family safe than just applying the highest SPF sunscreen you can get your hands on.
Read on to learn how to protect your loved ones from sunburn and dehydration without sacrificing one minute of summertime fun.
Protect your skin.
While most people only think of putting on sunscreen when they plan on spending several hours out in bright sun, the truth is the sun’s rays don’t need much time to do some serious damage. So defend your skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher and apply it generously 15-20 minutes before heading outdoors.
Reapply it every 2 hours or more often if you’re swimming. And don’t be shy – the cost of a bottle of sunscreen is a small price to pay to keep your skin healthy. Remember, however, that babies 6 months old and under should not use sunscreen, so keep them out of the sun if possible, or dress them in light layers of clothing.
Protect your eyes with UV blocking sunglasses and your head with a wide-brimmed hat. If you have fair skin, red hair, or a history of skin moles, be sure to take extra precautions.
Stay cool.
It might be tempting to plant your beach chair in the sand or by the pool all day. But you’ll only raise your risk of sunburn and dehydration. So take frequent breaks and make sure you drink plenty of water, especially on really hot days. Remember that water reflects the sun’s rays, so while you might feel like a swim cools you down, it actually increases your exposure to the sun.
Know the signs.
Stay safe by understanding the signs of dehydration. The most common are: increased thirst, dry mouth, swollen tongue, weakness, dizziness, and decreased urine output. If you suspect mild to moderate dehydration, drink plenty of water and find a cool, shady stop to rest in. For severe dehydration (often characterized by a fever, vomiting, difficulty breathing and/or fainting), seek medical attention immediately.
The start of a summer is also a great time to make sure your air conditioning system is in peak operating condition, and a great way to accomplish that is with an AC system cleaning and inspection from LBA. We invite you to contact us today to schedule service.
