Marsh & McLennan Agency

Sun Safety

Finding your fun in the sun with added protection is easy!   No one can afford not to be extra cautious in the sun with skin cancer rates on the rise. Anyone who spends time in the sun needs to follow these skin-saving tips:

• Limit the amount of time you spend in direct sun, especially during the sun’s strongest rays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Wear protective clothing when you’re out in the sun, including long sleeves, sunglasses, and a hat that shades your face, neck, and ears.
• Apply sunscreen with broad spectrum protection and an SPF of 30 or higher on all skin that isn’t covered.
• Reapply sunscreen at least every two hours while in the sun.
• Check the expiration date of you sunscreen.
• Protect your skin on cool or cloudy days – You may not feel or see the sun but it can see you!
• Be aware that covering up doesn’t block out all of the UV rays – When you can see light through fabric then UV rays can get to your skin.

When you plan to spend time outdoors, you may want to check the UV Index for your area. You can get this information from the weather channel, smart phone apps, and off of the internet by visiting www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html.

If you are unsure how strong the sun’s rays are, use the shadow test: While standing in the sun, when your shadow is shorter than you are, the sun’s rays are at their strongest.

For more information visit: www.cancer.org/healthy/besafeinthesun.