We all love our fun in the sun, but there are risks, too. From mosquito bites to eye injuries, summertime poses many dangers that can lead to serious health issues. To avoid a nasty situation, follow these tips so you can keep having your fun in the sun.
Stay hydrated
We don’t need to tell you that it gets hot in the summer, and the hotter it is, the more you sweat. As a result, you can quickly become dehydrated if you’re not regularly drinking water. Always keep a bottle of water on hand when you’re outside and be sure to get well-hydrated before any kind of physical exertion. If you’re not sure how much water you should be drinking, then follow the 20-Minute Rule—drink some water every 20 minutes.
Put on bug spray
Mosquitoes and ticks thrive in the summer, and they’re especially attracted to the scented soaps, perfumes, and hairsprays we put on ourselves. These types of bugs will not only give you a nasty bug bite, but they can carry all sorts of diseases from Zika to Lyme disease. So protect yourself and your children by layering up the bug spray and spraying your front and backyards with insect repellent.
Lather on the sun screen
Bugs aren’t the only things that can irritate your skin. Without sun screen, your skin can get burned quickly, especially during the 10am-4pm window where the sun is at its peak. And, if you’re repeatedly going outdoors without sun screen, you could risk serious skin damage or skin cancer. Avoid this by applying sunscreen with SPF 15+ at least 30 minutes before you step outside.
Wear sunglasses
Thanks to UV rays, the sun can damage our eyes just as much as our skin, and prolonged exposure can lead to serious health consequences such as corneal sunburn and macular degeneration. The best way to prevent this is to wear sunglasses every time you step outside. Here at Real Shades, our sunglasses contain 100% UVA and UVB protection, so take a look at our inventory to get a pair of your own.