Staying Safe in the Sun on Vacation!
By: Anna TrosperDecember 7, 2017Summer is a time for fun outside in the sun! Vacations to the beach or that magical place where Mickey lives, the sun is ever present. Whatever your summer plans, you need to protect you and your family from the sun.If you’re anything like me, you love to bask in the sun. It can be lying on the beach reading a book or playing a game of volleyball. If I am outside I am happy. But there is nothing worse than being on vacation and getting a bad sunburn. Not only does it put a damper on your vacation but the sun also has so many ways it can cause damage. So how can we stay safe from the sun and still have fun? Here are a few simple tips.
Keep Cool and Stay Hydrated!
Getting dehydrated is one of the biggest problems when playing out in the sun. It’s important to drink before you start to feel thirsty. Thirst signals that you’re already at least five to 10 percent less hydrated than you should be, so keep the water close by and drink more often than you think you should. Staying cool can be a tough task when out in the sun, but if you’re at the beach cool down in the ocean. Make sure to have some shade to get under to stay cool. If you’re at a park step into a shop with air conditioning and cool down while you browse. It does not take all that long and who knows you just might find that treasure you have been looking for.
Safeguard Your Skin from the Sun
Unless you’ve been living under a rock the last 20 years you know all about the sun’s ultraviolet rays that cause sunburns and skin cancer. So any time you go outside you need to protect your skin from the sun. You do not need to worry too much about what kind of sunscreen you use, as long as you use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has an SPF of 15 or higher, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The best sunscreen is one you will use! Consider wearing a hat with a brim or sun-blocking clothing. But don’t count on clothes to replace sunscreen. The CDC warns, a typical T-shirt offers you less protection than an SPF 15 sunscreen. So it’s important to put on the sunscreen underneath your clothes too. Darker-colored clothing will shield you from the rays better than lighter-colored clothes and a dry shirt will protect you more than a wet one. Even if you’re in the water all day, watch out! Your body is not getting hot but the sunlight is reflecting off the water and can cause a bad burn quickly. And if you are taking medication, check to see if it can make you more sensitive to sunlight as well.
Protect Your Eyes from the Rays
Your skin isn’t the only body part that can be harmed by the sun. Be on the lookout for ways to safeguard your eyes from the sun’s rays, too. So that’s another great reason to buy those new pair of shades you have been wanting for your trip! Sunglasses are like sunscreen for your eyes!The point is to have fun but stay safe. Whether you’re at the parks or at the beach it is easy to get a bad sunburn that can ruin your whole trip. So, apply sunscreen frequently throughout the day. And when packing for that vacation stock up! Purchasing sunscreen before leaving home will cost less than buying when you get there. Also, don’t forget to throw in that floppy hat and those new shades.If you would like help planning that vacation in the sun I would love to help you. Contact me at annat@wishesfamilytravel.com . You can also visit my Facebook page to keep up on great tips and travel information.Have fun but stay safe!