The summer is here! You probably have a list of activities you need to cross out. Maybe you want to spend your day at the beach or playing your favourite sport. One important question: is it safe to bring your kids and seniors along?

Most non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers are a threat in Australia. At the same time, the sun is vital for our health. Life is too short to stick within the walls of your home and miss out on all that fun.

Fortunately, this article will give you some helpful tips on walking into the sunshine with confidence and caring for your children and senior family members. If you stick to them, you may have nothing to worry about.

Take plenty of water. 

Water! You probably guessed it. When it comes to healthy living, that pure colourless liquid is a necessity – it’s not just for the summer but also during the other seasons. However, we tend to lose more water during the summer through all the outdoor activities we undertake while in hot temperatures.

Consuming water prevents you from getting dehydrated. Are you familiar with the dangers of dehydration while working out? For starters, once your body is dehydrated, it can’t regulate heat, which leads to a temperature rise and an increased heartbeat. Furthermore, your decision making and concentration are also affected. Drinking enough water prevents this – and you might hurdle that 40-minute workout you have been trying to achieve.

Health professionals recommend that you:

  • Drink a cup of water four hours before your workout.
  • Consume approximately 120-150ml of water for every fifteen minutes that you exercise.
  • Once you are done, you need to drink as much water as possible to replace what you lost.

You could also opt for other fluids such as fruit juice

Watch out for the time you exercise.

If you feel horrible about missing that one workout session, especially during this season, you may find a way of getting through it. You can outsmart the sun by exercising in the early morning or late in the evening.

This is the period when the temperatures are cool, which makes it convenient. Nonetheless, you may have a tight schedule during this period. You could opt to exercise indoors or do it in the sun while keeping safety measures in mind.

Make use of sunscreen.

In Australia, the time of the year doesn’t matter when it comes to applying sunscreen, making it even more vital during the summer season. Just 11 minutes in the sun and your skin may exhibit the effect. So, how can you determine if your skin is burnt?

  • Painful eyes.
  • The affected area is warm and may turn pink or red.
  • Sunburn blister with fluid.
  • Swelling on the skin.
  • If severe, you could experience headache, fever, or fatigue.

As we know, sunburns may take weeks to heal if they are severe, and nighttime may turn into a nightmare as the burn becomes unbearable. Sunscreen features chemical and physical elements that block and soak up the UV rays. The physical properties such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide reflect the rays.

Nonetheless, be wary of the sunscreen you choose, as some may contain chemicals that the body absorbs. The Cancer Council advocates for water-resistant sunscreens labelled broad-spectrum and are at least SPF 30. Whatever you go with, keep in mind that without the sun protector on, you are susceptible to various skin cancers.

Reports from the Cancer Council also recommend that you apply sunscreen 20 minutes in advance before going out. Do not forget to keep reapplying.

If you have children and the elderly with you, get some sunscreen and adequate water for them. For your young ones, educate them on the importance of these elements. Don’t be surprised if they keep reminding you, instead of the other way round. 

Are you running out of health activities that your youngsters can engage in? Try to find gymnastics clubs, boxing training, and any other non-athletic activities they may like. To help them reach their full potential, choose a local club with dedicated and qualified staff.

Final thoughts

Summertime is a period to go out and have fun. It is also a time to interact with friends and family. However, the hot sun can be a barrier to all that. But with the tips mentioned above, sunburns could be but a word in your dictionary!