July Is  UV & Heat Safety Month      

      Unless this is your first summer in Florida, you know that July and August heat can be unbearable. This is the time when the terms like “UV index” and “heat index” are heard in weather reports, and we hear of the extra precautions we should take to prevent heat-related illnesses. You can have happy, healthy, summer fun if you prepare yourself to combat the extreme sunlight and scorching temperatures with the following tips.

      Excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light can cause sunburns, eye damage leading to cataracts, skin aging/wrinkling, and skin cancer. The UV Index is a linear scale on which the risk of skin damage due to UV exposure is represented by a color and increases with increasing number. A value of 0 means no UV exposure, as at night, while a value of 11+ occurs during mid-day in an area where the ozone layer is depleted. 

      The precautions you should take in the sun are dependent on the UV index for that day. A value of 0-2 is low danger, shows up green on a map, and means you should wear sunglasses and sunscreen if you are in the snow or have fair skin. Yellow areas have a moderate rating of 3-5 and mean you should wear sunglasses, sunscreen, clothing, and a hat. High risk values of 6-7 are orange on a map; you should wear sunglasses, use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, wear sun protective clothing and a hat, and reduce time in the sun between 11 am and 4 pm. You are at very high risk when the UV index is 8-10, which is shown as red on a map. Use the same precautions as for high risk days, but be more careful and reapply sunscreen often. Extreme risk occurs at 11+ (violet color). You should use sunscreen on your entire body, wear sunglasses, long sleeves, and a wide-brimmed hat, and avoid the sun between 11 am and 4 pm.

      Heat index is a measurement of how hot the environment actually feels based on a combination of air temperature and relative humidity. When humidity is low, your body can efficiently cool itself through sweating and evaporation of the sweat (it is the evaporation, not the sweating itself, that cools you off). High relative humidity reduces the evaporation rate of water, so your body feels hotter because it retains more heat.

      At temperatures between 80-90°, fatigue is possible with prolonged exposure and activity. Extreme caution is warranted when exposed to temperatures from 90-105° because heatstroke, heat cramps, and heat exhaustion are possible. Temperatures above 105° are dangerous because sunstroke, heat cramps, and heat exhaustion are likely, while heat stroke is possible. Sunstroke or heat exhaustion occurs when the body absorbs more heat than it can successfully dissipate, and you can recognize a victim by dizziness, headache, nausea, pale/moist skin, and lack of sweating. Heat cramps are episodes of cramping, usually in the abdomen or calves, that occur due to dehydration.

      Since it is sometimes impossible to completely avoid the heat (such as with sporting events), it is important to know some of the precautionary measures. Infants, young children, adults 65 and older, and those who are ill, have heart disease, or have high blood pressure should be watched especially closely for signs of heat related illness. Drink more fluids than you normally would, and never wait until you are thirsty to take a drink. Avoid sugary drinks because they can dehydrate you more, but drink sports drinks to replace electrolytes if you are exercising for an hour. Wear light-colored, light weight material, get in the shade as often as possible, and never stay in a parked car. Make sure to take breaks during your activity and listen to your body!