12 Tips on Sun Safety

Being aware of the dangers of too much sun exposure is important. The risks of too much sunlight and/or tanning bed exposure for your skin are: Skin cancer, sunburns and premature wrinkling/aging of the skin. Regardless of where you live or the season, the potential for overexposure is there. Here are twelve helpful tips to help protect you.

Photo by Carole Jakucs; view of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
Image subject to copyright.

1. Look for the words, “Broad Spectrum,” on the label of your sunscreen, for the fullest protection from both UVA and UVB rays.
2. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more, 30 or more is better to prevent sunburns.
3. Stay out of the sun between the hours of 10 AM to 4 PM when the sun is the strongest.
4. Use a, “Water Resistant,” sunscreen.
5. Reapply every hour, especially if you’re sweating or swimming because sunscreen wears off quickly when the skin is wet.
6. Apply a generous amount of sunscreen to all areas of skin that are exposed to the sun.
7. Don’t forget to cover these spots too: The bottoms of your feet, back of your neck, ears cartilage and top of the head if you have any balding areas/hair loss.
8. Remember your lips: Get a special sunscreen product formulated for the lips.
9. A good brand of sunglasses that protect against both UVA and UVB rays will help to reduce your risk of developing cataracts.
10. Wear a hat (with a brim) or sun-visor – to help cover your head and face in addition to sunscreen.
11. Burns and sun damage to our skin occurs even on cloudy days so protect yourself from premature wrinkling, skin cancer and sunburns, even if it’s cloudy.
12. If you’re prone to skin allergies, look for fragrance free or hypoallergenic sunscreen products to reduce your chances of an allergic reaction.

Hiking for health-12 tips for a safe hike

Hiking is a great way to get exercise while enjoying the great outdoors. It’s a fun alternative to your regular exercise routine and can provide a calming yet invigorating workout.  However, even an easy hike should not be taken lightly as people can get unexpectedly lost, sunburned or injured.  Read these tips to raise your chances of having a safe hike.

1. Plan your location: Research where you’re going in advance and stick to county, state or federal parks.  Info can be found online regarding the intensity of the trails which are usually categorized in three levels; easy/mild, moderate or difficult/intense. If you're new to hiking you’ll want to only take “easy” trails. Easy trails can still provide you with a great work out. Many parks offer more than one trail and usually have signs at the start the trail such as animal or rattlesnake warnings and how to avoid contact with them as well as listing the level of difficulty of the trail (as mentioned above).
2. Stay on the trail. People that veer off of the trail raise their risk of getting lost or injured. Getting lost is not fun and can lead to injuries due to unexpected cliffs, rough terrain, overexposure to the elements such as extreme hot or cold and can unfortunately lead to death in some circumstances. 
3. Don’t go alone. Always hike with at least one other person. Leave word with a third person as to where you’re hiking and your expected time/date of return.
4. Wear the right shoes or boots. You don’t want shoes with smooth bottoms as it’s easier to slip and fall with smooth soled shoes. You want either trail type running shoes or hiking boots. Break them in at home first before wearing them on a long hike.  
5. Check the weather report before you go. You don’t want to get caught in a flash flood while hiking in low level terrain or valleys or, get caught in a lightening/thunderstorm.
6. Sun Protection: Wear plenty of sunscreen with and SPF of at least 30 and reapply every hour to all areas exposed to the sun. Wear a hat to protect your face and any bald spots on your head. Protecting your skin helps to prevent skin cancer too. Wear high quality sunglasses with 100 % UVA and UVB protection.                                       
7. Bring plenty of water either in bottles or canteens so you don’t get dehydrated.
8. Bring plenty of nuts and protein bars. These are light and easy to pack and will fill you up if you get hungry and can offer you good nutrition if you’re out longer than you anticipate or, if the worst occurs and you get lost or injured. *Pack hand sanitizer too so you can clean your hands before you eat. 
9. Bring a fully charged cell phone in case you have to make an emergency call and a whistle if you need to make noise in the event of getting lost or needing to scare away a wild animal.
10. Wear lightweight (if it’s hot) long pants to reduce your chances of getting bug bites or scratches from any brush you encounter. You may even want to consider a lightweight long sleeve shirt for the same reason. Always bring another layer for your upper body such as a lightweight sweatshirt or jacket in case it’s cooler than you anticipate. If your skin gets sunburned easily, in addition to sunscreen you can purchase clothing with sunscreen/sun block type of fabric at specialty stores.  Long sleeve and pants help prevent mosquito and tick bites too.
11. Don’t litter or leave human food for the animals. Leave nature as you found it!
12. Pack a small first aid kit with basics such as can of saline wound wash, bandages, first aid ointment, and an over the counter antihistamine and pain reliever, and moleskin or corn and callous pads for unexpected foot blisters.

*Last, have fun! If you plan ahead so you’re prepared, hiking can be truly enjoyable observing birds, flowers, animals, beautiful landscapes and enjoying the peace and quiet of nature, all while exercising.

Tip # 2 - 3 Tips to Prevent Skin Cancer – Savvy Sun Safety

Tip # 2:  Being sun safety savvy is one of the best ways to help prevent skin cancer. The following are "need to know" tips on how to do so:

• SPF of 30 or more - SPF means sun protection factor.  Sunscreen with a strength of 30 is the minimum amount considered to give you a fighting chance against the damaging rays and to help prevent over exposure to the sun.
• Broad Spectrum – Use broad spectrum as this term is necessary (must appear on the package label) to ensure you’re getting protection from both UVA and UVB rays.
• Reapply every hour – The term “waterproof” is no longer allowed by the FDA.  If you’re sweating or swimming, your product is wearing off. Reapplying every hour helps to ensure you’re covered.
• Use enough – Apply a generous amount to all areas exposed.  Research has shown that most of us don’t use enough.
• Cover all exposed areas – And don’t forget the bottoms of your feet (if you’re lying on your tummy in the sun), the back of your neck, ears, and top of the head for anyone who has balding areas.
• Use lip products that contain suncreen (SPF) of 30 or more, to help protect delicate lips from overexposure.
• Wear a hat (with a brim) or sun-visor – to help cover your head and face in addition to sunscreen.
• Fragrance Free – Use “fragrance free” sunscreen if you’re prone to fragrance allergies.
• Oil Free & Non Comedogenic - Look for the terms “Oil Free” and “Non Comedogenic” if you are prone to acne/pimples from oily products. These are formulated to help prevent a breakout from using the product.
• Stay out of the sun between the hours of 10 AM to 4 PM when the sun is at its strongest..
• Eye Protection - Wear quality sunglasses that offer both UVA and UVB protection of 99 - 100 %.

The added bonus with being savvy about sun safety is that practicing these tips over time will help contribute to an improved and more youthful appearance to your skin with fewer wrinkles and sun spots. See this link for Tip # 1 on skin cancer prevention: http://carole-jakucs.blogspot.com/2012/05/3-tips-to-prevent-skin-cancer-monitor.html 
See this link for Tip # 3: http://carole-jakucs.blogspot.com/2012/05/tip-3-skin-cancer-prevention-healthy.html
More info, see these:
http://www.aad.org/media-resources/stats-and-facts/prevention-and-care/sunscreens
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/uv-protection/AN00832