Welsh Government | Stay safe in the sun

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Stay safe in the sun

As summer is finally upon us and thousands of people descend on the Royal Welsh showground, the Chief Medical Officer is reminding people that the best way to enjoy the sun is to stay safe.

Wednesday 25 July 2012

Dr Tony Jewell said it is important to prevent getting sunburn by wearing sunscreen when outside and wide brimmed hats and sunglasses to help protect your face and eyes.

“Don’t forget to drink regularly – water or other cold soft drinks rather than tea and coffee, and remember that the sun is strongest between 11 am and 3 pm.

“It is very important to protect babies and small children. Babies burn faster than children and adults so need to be shaded from the sun. Keep them cool and give them plenty of cool liquids. Use a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 that has four or five stars and protects against UVA and UVB. Getting a painful sunburn just once every two years can triple the risk of the most serious type of skin cancer, so protecting yourself and your family is vital.

“Maximise the protection by putting sunscreen on your children about half an hour before they go outside, and re-apply at least every two hours, more often if they are playing in water. Dress children in light, loose-fitting clothes, preferably cotton to keep them cool. A wide-brimmed hat that covers their face, back of the neck and ears will help protect children when they play outside.

“Children and older people in particular should drink plenty of water, and splash themselves several times a day with water, particularly their face and back of their neck. Placing your feet in luke-warm water also helps to cool you down.

“I advise older people, especially those with heart or lung diseases to be careful. In hot weather the air quality can deteriorate. Hot, humid weather and poor air quality are all known asthma triggers, so people who have asthma should consider taking any preventative measures suggested by their doctor.

“Think ahead about what you need to do to keep cool; keeping safe in the sun means acting quickly. For those people attending the Royal Welsh Show, there are several first aid points around the show ground with staff who will be able to assist you. Otherwise, contact your doctor, a pharmacist or NHS Direct Wales if you are worried about your health, especially if you are taking medication, or have any unusual symptoms.

“I hope everyone manages to stay safe and enjoy the sun in the coming days.”