(NC)-Summer and sports go hand in hand. Kids across the country are lacing up their cleats to hit the field and tuning up their bikes to hit the road. When it comes to sports or playing in the sun – safety comes first. You wouldn’t let your son or daughter play soccer barefoot or ride without a helmet, so why would you let them head outdoors without proper sun protection?
Consider the following tips to ensure fun in the summer sun no matter what sport you play:
• Apply sunscreen at least 20 to 30 minutes before going outdoors. If you can do it an hour ahead of time, that’s even better.
• Be sure to choose a sunscreen that offers broad spectrum protection, which means it protects from both UVA and UVB rays.
• Don’t forget to wear protection on cloudy days as well as sunny ones. UVB rays may be partially blocked by the grayness, but UVA rays are not.
• Know that the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Protect yourself appropriately. Also know that you should use sunscreen no matter what time you go out to enjoy the day.
• Protect your child’s skin with sunscreens designed specifically for the sensitive skin of babies and kids.
• Wear sunscreen even if you are only planning to drive from one indoor location to another. UVA rays can penetrate glass. Commonly forgotten exposures include the left arm that sits on the car door ledge when driving and the rays that warm your face through the sunroof.
• Sunscreen isn’t the only form of protection from the sun. Wearing a hat, sun-protective clothing or even using an umbrella can help prevent harmful damage to your skin and help avoid sunburn.
