{"id":151526,"date":"2019-06-28T16:10:10","date_gmt":"2019-06-28T20:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?post_type=school-college-post&#038;p=151526"},"modified":"2019-06-28T16:10:10","modified_gmt":"2019-06-28T20:10:10","slug":"summer-safety-tips-help-stay-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2019\/06\/summer-safety-tips-help-stay-safe\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Safety &#8211; Tips to help you stay safe"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Summer brings fun and adventure, but there are several things that should be kept in mind to stay safe and healthy while having fun in the sun and enjoying all the activities the season offers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sun Safety <\/strong>\u2013 It is important to keep these tips in mind and review them with your children as well. Sunburns are very common, but they are very preventable. Although sunscreen application is very important, sun safety is more than just applying sunscreen.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Sunscreen with at least SPF 15 should always be applied before going outside. Your skin can still be damaged by UV rays from the sun even on cloudy days.<\/li>\n<li>You should wear a wide-brimmed hat that covers your face and ears. When wearing baseball caps, apply sunscreen to the back of your neck and ears.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>To help stay cool at the beach and for sun protection, umbrellas and canopies are great options for the beach.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t forget to keep a pair of sunglasses on hand. They help to protect your eyes from damaging UV rays.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_149356\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-149356\" style=\"width: 160px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-149356 img-responsive lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/grant-kels.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"160\" height=\"208\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 160px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 160\/208;\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-149356\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Jane Grant-Kels, UConn Health dermatologist and skin cancer expert.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/find-a-provider\/physician\/Grant-Kels-Jane\">Dr. Jane Grant-Kels<\/a>, a UConn Health dermatologist and nationally recognized skin cancer expert, provides further detail on sun safety:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Don\u2019t skimp on the sunscreen:<\/strong>\u00a0Start with at least 1 ounce (think shot glass) to cover your entire skin surface. And you\u2019ll need to reapply every two hours, or sooner after swimming or heavy perspiration. \u201cThat means a tube of sunscreen shouldn\u2019t last a whole summer; it should last probably a weekend if used properly,\u201d Grant-Kels says. \u201cAnd it doesn\u2019t give you permission to lay in the sun all day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Preferred products:<\/strong> Use sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) rating of at least 30 (SPF goes up to 100, which is more protective than 30, but not three times as protective, so don\u2019t pay three times the price). \u201cI recommend a total block, which means UV-A and UV-B, and water-resistant,\u201d Grant-Kels says. Creams are better than lotions, wipes or sprays. And if you\u2019re concerned about the environment, use physical sunscreens that deflect the sun\u2019s rays, such as those that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, rather than the chemical sunscreens that absorb the sun\u2019s rays.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What to Wear:<\/strong> Sun-protective clothing is now available \u2013 some even have an SPF rating. They\u2019re usually tightly woven but lightweight with ventilation. And you don\u2019t have to re-apply, which gives them an advantage over sunscreens. Even some bathing suits are made from sun-protective fabric. \u201cAnd wearing a hat with a 4-inch brim is, I think, mandatory, especially for people when they\u2019re outdoors for long periods of time,\u201d Grant-Kels says.<\/p>\n<p>Sun safety and protection is very important, but here are a few other tips to keep top of mind for you and your children\u2019s safety:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Water Safety <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Never leave your child unattended around the water. Even if your child knows how to swim, there is still a risk for drowning. Small children can drown in less than two inches of water that is left in a bucket.<\/li>\n<li>Life jackets or other flotation devices should always be worn. Make sure to check the size and weight recommendations, and read all warning labels.<\/li>\n<li>Being comfortable in the water is a life skill for people of all ages, and it\u2019s never too late, even for adults, to take swimming lessons.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Some of the summer holidays bring opportunities to celebrate with fireworks. Fireworks should be handle by adults only and should always be kept away from your face and clothing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Firework Safety <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It is important for fireworks to be lit outdoors in an open space, away from housing and dry brush or vegetation.<\/li>\n<li>Purchase only legal fireworks, and they should be stored in a cool, dry place. Also, research local community regulations on fireworks before proceeding further.<\/li>\n<li>Children should not handle fireworks \u2013 even if they already have been used. They sometimes have a delayed fuse and can still be lit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_129872\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-129872\" style=\"width: 155px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-129872 img-responsive lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Fuller-Robert-4-14-15-JGelineau-21-309x420-221x300.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. Robert Fuller, chair of emergency medicine at UConn Health (UConn Health Photo by Janine Gelineau).\" width=\"155\" height=\"210\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Fuller-Robert-4-14-15-JGelineau-21-309x420-221x300.jpg 221w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Fuller-Robert-4-14-15-JGelineau-21-309x420.jpg 309w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 155px) 100vw, 155px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 155px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 155\/210;\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-129872\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Robert Fuller, chair of emergency medicine at UConn Health (UConn Health Photo\/Janine Gelineau).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Dr. Robert Fuller, chair of UConn Health\u2019s Department of Emergency Medicine, says that insect protection is also essential during the summer months and further reinforced the need for sunscreen.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSummer is a great time of year to undertake fitness goals,\u201d adds Fuller. \u201cHowever, be sure to take safety precautions including wearing bike helmets and life jackets in the water. Injuries from sports and other activities as well as exertional symptoms like heart attacks in older adults should be addressed immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Make note of emergency or trauma centers in your local area and when traveling so you know where to go if the need for those services should arise.<\/p>\n<p>There are so many joys to experience during the summer. Go out there and have fun; but, be safe!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summer brings fun and adventure, but there are several things that should be kept in mind to stay safe and healthy while having fun in the sun and enjoying all the activities the season offers. Sun Safety \u2013 It is important to keep these tips in mind and review them with your children as well. 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