Many of us desire to be outside during the warm summer months. The sun provides numerous positive physical benefits for the body such as the essential nutrient Vitamin D. However, the sun can be dangerous if the body is overexposed. This is true especially when the temperature hits the low 90’s. The heat can be a serious health risk for everyone, especially those people over the age of 65.
Here are 10 Safety tips to note to enjoy the sun safely:
- Stay indoors as much as possible during the late morning and afternoon hours.
- If you exercise outdoors, make sure to do so during the cooler hours of the day—early morning and evening. Also, make sure to consult your physician before starting an exercise routine.
- It is extremely important to stay hydrated, so drink a lot of water and other fluids throughout the day, even if you are not thirsty.
- Stay away from alcoholic beverages or those that contain caffeine, as they can increase the risk of dehydration. Sports drinks are good because they can help restore important salts and nutrients into your body and fight dehydration.
- Try to stay in the air conditioning if at all possible. If you cannot stay in the air conditioning during the hot hours of the day, try taking cool baths and showers to keep your body temperature at a normal level.
- If you go outside, wear a hat that can help shield your face from the sun. Also, wear sunglasses and sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher.
- Do not wear heavy or dark clothing.
- Do not do any heavy lifting or other laborious tasks during the hotter parts of the day.
- Do not eat large meals. Try eating smaller meals in shorter time intervals.
- Make sure to consult your physician to see how much time you should spend in the sun each day.
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