Always practice safe sun

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Lynsie Nichols
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Not only does Memorial Day mark the beginning of the Air Force's Critical Days of Summer campaign, it also marks the start of summer.

With the weather warming up and school letting out, people are spending more time outdoors, making them more susceptible to heat exhaustion, heat stroke or sunburn.

Below are some ways to help identify, treat and possibly prevent these from happening:

Heat exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is a milder form of a heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids.

According to www.medicinenet.com, those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, individuals with high blood pressure, and those who work or exercise in a hot environment.

Some of the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion are heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, headaches, nausea and fainting.

Heat-stroke

Another damaging effect of the sun is heat stroke.

It is a form of hyperthermia, an abnormally elevated body temperature with accompanying physical and neurological symptoms. Unlike heat cramps and heat exhaustion, heat stroke is a true medical emergency that can be fatal if not properly and promptly treated.

According to the MedicineNet website, those most susceptible individuals to heat strokes include infants, the elderly, athletes and individuals who work outside and physically exert themselves under the sun.

The signs of a heat stroke are headache, dizziness, confusion and unconsciousness.

To avoid heat exhaustion and heat stroke, people should ensure they are drinking plenty of water and staying in the shade whenever possible to avoid the peak hours of the sun (between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

Sunburn

Too much fun in the sun can also cause you to get sunburn.

Sunburn is a clear sign that ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or sun beds has damaged the genetic material in your skin cells - their Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

Damaged DNA can cause cells to start growing out of control, which could lead to skin cancer. Getting sun burned just once every two years can triple the risk of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.

According to the San Francisco School of Medicine at the University of California, sunblock protects your skin by absorbing and/or reflecting ultraviolet A and B waves.
All sunblock contains a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) rating. The SPF rating indicates how long a sunscreen remains effective on the skin. A user can determine how long their sunblock will be effective by multiplying the SPF factor by the length of time it takes for him or her to suffer a burn without sunscreen.

The American Association of Dermatology recommends that a broad spectrum sunblock with an SPF of at least 15 be applied daily to all sun exposed areas and then reapplied every two hours.

However, in recent AAD clinical trials, sunblock with SPF 30 provided significantly better protection than sunblock with SPF 15.

People should also be aware of the "invisible" sun. This is the sun on a cloudy or overcast day. It is easy to think that sunburn won't develop because of cooler temperatures or breezes on a cloudy day, but in reality, it does.

Also, limit exposure to reflective surfaces such as water. UV rays can be reflected off of water and sand, so continue to practice sun protective behaviors even when in shady areas and near reflective surfaces.

To treat sunburn, the Mayo Clinic recommends keeping the skin area cool by applying a cold compress such as a towel dampened with cool water to the affected skin, or take a cool bath.

Other treatments include applying aloe or moisturizing lotions to the affected area, making sure to avoid products containing alcohol, which further dry out the skin.

Consult a doctor for sunburn treatment if severe sunburn with blisters covers a large portion of your body and is accompanied by a high fever or severe pain or if it does not begin to improve within a few days.

Practice these sun-safe tips, to enjoy summer without incident.