Be Safe in the Sun

Nobody wants to stay inside when the sun’s shining. So when you’re outside, be safe and protect yourself and your family from getting too much sun.
Sun Safety Tips:

• Check the UV index daily
  • A UV index of 3 or higher means that you need to use extra caution to protect your skin.  The sun’s rays are strongest between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. so try to reduce your time in the sun during these hours. In Canada between April and September, the UV Index can be 3 or more from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., even when it’s cloudy.
• Seek Shade
  • If your shadow is shorter than you are, it’s time to find some shade.
• Cover Up
  • Cover up as much of your skin as you can - clothes provide better protection than sunscreen; wear a hat.  Many skin cancers happen on the face and neck so be sure to put sunscreen on your ears, chin and neck even when you’re wearing a hat.
• Wear sunglasses
  • Sunglasses can help prevent damage to your eyes so keep your shades on and make sure your children do too. Close-fitting ones with UVA and UVB protection in a wraparound style are the best option.
• Use Sunscreeen properly
  • Use an SPF of 30 or higher.
  • Make sure the sunscreen is labelled broad-spectrum (offers both UVA and UVB protection).
  • If you’re in the water, make sure your sunscreen is water-resistant
  • Apply a generous amount and put it on before make-up
  • Use a lip balm with SPF – your lips need protection too
    
    

Talk to your health care provider about any changes to your skin like:

• a birthmark or a mole that changes shape, colour, size or surface
• any new growth on your skin – pale, pearly nodules that may grow larger and crust, or red, scaly, sharply defined patches
• any sore that doesn’t heal
• any patch of skin that bleeds, oozes, swells, itches or becomes red and bumpy

Preventative Health Care – the Easiest Way to Protect Your Future!